Elaine Celli

1934 – 2021

Elaine Celli, 86 years old – Mom was set free from dementia/Alzheimer’s on September 23, 2021 after complications from a fall she suffered that left her with a broken arm. Mom was born at home on a beautiful fall day November 5, 1934 in Frontier, WY to Frances and Ernest Gordes. She was so tiny that the Dr. put her in a shoebox and in the oven as a homemade incubator. She was lovingly teased throughout her adulthood that she was over-cooked as an infant. Elaine graduated from Kemmerer HS with the class of 52. She remained friends with most of her classmates and shared a lot of cherished memories of her school days. Mom was always a friend to everyone and she had the kindest heart you would ever meet. Her family was joined by her sister, Geraldine (“Jerry” Clarke) and mom couldn’t have been more excited to be a big sister. Mom married our dad, Henry J. Celli, Sr. on July 19, 1955 in Evanston, Wy and together they lived in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Utah. The family grew by adding her only son (Ernest A.) and her only daughter (Michelle M.). Mom took great pride in her children, no matter what, and loved us unconditionally. When she thought we couldn’t make her more proud, we surprised her with our spouses, Janet E. Makie (the daughter of a classmate) and Daniel A. King. Her heart overflowed with the addition of her grandchildren (Tiffanie L., Stephen M., and Dustin A.) and great-grandchildren (Madison P. and Mackenzie). Mom had a strong faith in God and accepted him as her Savior. For mom’s entire life, nothing brought her more joy than her family, babies, and animals. She loved social gatherings with her friends, new and old, and her family. Mom loved birds, the movies, staying up late, lunch and dinner dates with “the kids,” playing cards, yatzee, and marbles with Stephen, and helping people. She was capable of making friends no matter where she was and she quickly melted the hearts of the staff at Sunridge in Roy. Natalie C. went above and beyond as her CNA but was also mom’s dear friend. Carsen W. had a way with mom that nobody else did and she often remembered him with a smile on her face. She made several friends in her time there, residents and staff alike. The names and moments are countless. Her laugh was contagious and she had a sweetness and humor that people gravitated to. Mom took great pride in her ancestry and was always eager to learn more about her family history. Mom was a wealth of stories about “old times” and experiences.

Left to miss her, until our name is called, are her sister, her son and Janet and daughter and Dan, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many friends. Mom was welcomed into heaven by her parents, her grandparents (Marie and Tommy Kikuchi and Frances and Anton Borstnar), our dad, her brother-in-law (Richard B. Clarke), aunts and uncles (Rose Mormino, Alice and Fred Sadler, Julie and Johnny Kantor, Steffie and Pete Casanova, & Margaret Holloway), several cousins and many friends. (Special thanks to her nursing team at Elevation Home Care & Hospice for their great care and support to our family).

Cremation under direction of Myer’s Mortuary 5865 S 1900 W Roy, UT.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the mortuary Tuesday, September 28, 2021 from 5-6:00 pm with the Memorial Service immediately following at 6:00 pm. A private graveside service will be held at a later date at the Kemmerer City Cemetery, Kemmerer, Wyo.