Mary Cecilia Owen Andersen

Mary Cecilia Owen Andersen—Ceci—was born Nov. 22, 1951 in Tucson, Arizona. She was the daughter of John and Mercedes Gamez Owen, recent immigrants who found a home in the Mexican-American community of South Tucson. Ceci was the youngest of four children: brothers John and Bob and sister Lucinda.

From an early age, Ceci learned much about dealing with the challenges of life. Her father died when she was three years old, and Mercedes raised the four children with hard work, love and discipline. Mercedes’ second husband Eusebio (Chevo) not only brought income and stability to the family, but a kindness and sense of humor, and still more love. Ceci spoke mainly Spanish as a child, so her first task when entering school was to learn a new language. She did this well enough to succeed throughout her school career. She was a songleader at Tucson High, and her senior year she was chosen Queen of the Tucson Rodeo and rode through downtown in the parade.

A few years later Ceci moved to San Francisco with her friends Judy Weizser and Cheryl and Rick Soloway. Here she found a new life and home in the vibrant artistic and social scene. She met Fred Andersen when he crashed her 24th birthday party. Fred moved to Walnut Creek in 1977 and Ceci soon followed. They were married in 1979 and moved to Phoenix. Ceci worked as a dental assistant and in the insurance business but she found her true calling when she completed her education and became a bilingual first-grade teacher and reading specialist in the Creighton School District from 1994 to 2011. During this time and after retirement, she also volunteered and worked at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the Arizona Department of Education and children’s literacy programs. In 1985 daughter Sonya was born, and in 1995 son James completed the family. Sonya married Mike Haile in 2014, and became stepmother to Shea. James married Alodia Pia Sampurna in 2020. Last December Mike and Sonya’s son Liam was born—Ceci’s first grandchild. Her kids and family were the light of her life.

Ceci was a beautiful, charming, energetic, funny, hardworking and very loving woman. She was a skilled seamstress (like her mother), and a passionate gardener (like her Tia Quina). Her baking (especially her pies), was legendary. She knew who she was, where she came from, and where she wanted to go, and she by God got there. Her family, friends, students and the world were blessed by her presence for seventy-three years. She left us April 6, 2025.

                        Now, the time has come to part

                        The time for weeping

                        Vaya con Dios, my darling

                        Vaya con Dios, my love