CHRISTEENE OSBORNE SANFORD

May 21, 1934 - October 11, 2021

With her daughters at her side, Christeene passed into the presence of her Savior on October 11, 2021. She was 87.

Christeene was born in Erlanger, Kentucky. She was the third of five children born to Evan Ellsworth and Ida Mae Osborne. The family moved to Derby Acres, California, when Christeene was very young, where she attended Midway School in Fellows.

Christeene graduated as a proud Wildcat from Taft Union High School, Class of 1952, where she excelled at business and home economics. Her strong work ethic took her to Bakersfield, where she worked at the Nile's Safeway. There she met Delbert Sanford and they wed in 1957. Christeene worked many years in retail, retiring from the old Green Frog Market (at Alta Vista & Bernard).

Christeene was a multi-talented individual. She was an amazing cook known for multi-course dinners and delicious desserts. She was an exquisite seamstress that created darling dresses for her daughters and granddaughters, and beautiful quilts for her grandchildren. Christeene was self-taught on the piano and organ, with a fondness for pipe organs and playing the hand bells at church. She was quite the artist, even making her own silver jewelry. Not to be idle in her retirement years, she went on multiple cruises to Europe and even visited Southeast Asia.

Christeene is survived by daughters Karen Sanford and Brenda (Chris) Hall, granddaughters Amy (Nick) Bakich, and Allison Hall, grandsons Christopher and Matthew Hall, great granddaughter Lilyann Bakich, sisters Louise Hudgens and Pauline Pelly, along with numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Delbert, her baby brother John, and her sister Shirley.

Christeene developed many friendships over the years, but was especially close to Sudie Love, Ruth Stoneman, Ruby Owens, and Esther Boozer. Family would like to thank Joel Jimenez and the staff of Joyful Living Home II, and the many nurses and aides from Bakersfield Home Health and Hospice who provided exceptional care for our mom as her health declined.

Graveside Service will be at 10:00 a.m. November 6, 2021, at Greenlawn Cemetery, 3700 River Blvd, Bakersfield, California. Following the graveside service, a Celebration of Life for Christeene will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Rock Harbor Church, located at 3633 Rosedale Highway. A lunch reception will follow at the same location.