Emily Santellanes
TEMPE – Our beloved Emily passed away peacefully with her family at her side on October 15, 2021, after more than three months in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, where she fought a courageous battle against several medical issues.
Emily was born to Abán and Eleanor Sedillo in McNary, Arizona on December 17, 1940, but grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona. She lived there, together with her loving Sedillo family, which included two sisters and six brothers, until October 29, 1960, when she married Mike Santellanes and moved to Southern California to start a honeymoon that lasted almost 61 years.
Their first daughter, Nina, was born in California. Following her husband’s career path with Price Waterhouse, they subsequently moved back to Arizona, where their second child, Linda, was born.
In 1964, the family was transferred to Guatemala, where their son, Mike Jr., was born. The following year, the young family moved to San José, Costa Rica, where Emily and Mike remained until his retirement in 1993.
Emily was very modest and seldom mentioned her accomplishments. She was an excellent mother and homemaker and still found time to meet and make many friends, become a superb bridge player, and an accomplished artist whose works appeared in several exhibits. Emily was also an outstanding bowler and excelled in several bowling leagues. She graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1958, helped guide her children to attend universities in Arizona, and was very pleased that all obtained degrees that led to successful careers. Emily was also a devout Catholic her entire life and a faithful supporter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Phoenix.
Emily is survived by her husband Mike and their children Nina (Mark), Linda (Scott), and Mike Jr., grandchildren, Dustin, Andrea, Mike lll, and Olivia, her sister Cruz, and brothers Fernando (Rose) and Ralph (Bea), plus many nephews, nieces and cousins. Emily was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lily, her brothers George, Jimmy, Bobby and Tony, several nephews, and a niece.
Emily loved to travel and visited almost every country in North, Central and South America, as well as most of the countries in Western Europe, some in Eastern Europe, the Far East, and the Caribbean. She led a good life doing the things she liked and was blessed with a loving family and many friends. Emily was a very generous and giving person and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
Emily’s religious services were held at Church of the Holy Spirit in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday, November 13, 2021, with a Rosary at 12:30 p.m., followed by a Mass at 1:00 p.m.