Celia

Bazan

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IN LOVING MEMORY

Celia Bazan

Dec 26 1927 - Mar 24 2021

Celia’s story begins on December 26, 1927. Her birth mother was Desideria Martinez Gallegos, and her birth father was David Gallegos. Although they were her birth parents, she never recalls receiving their love or a tender touch.  At the age of one and half years, due to family circumstances that forever altered her life, she went to live with her aunt. This is the woman God put in her life to raise and nurture her to become the woman she became.  That beautiful woman was Maria De La Cruz Martinez Esquibel. Known by family and friends as “Crusita.”  This was “her mother.” Crusita was married to Rubel Esquibel. This was the man that I knew as “her father.” 

She lived in this environment surrounded by their love and care until she was five years old. Her life took a turn which impacted her life then and in the future.  She was “abducted” by her birth father along with a younger sister and brother.  They were taken to California to his brother’s home where her grandparents were raising them. Soon after the grandparents died and for reasons unknown to her, they were dropped off at an orphanage and were left there for about a year. Her memory is that they took a train back to New Mexico where she was returned to her biological parents for a short period of time. Since she was unable to attend school she was then reunited with her mother Crusita and her father Rubel in Mancos, Colorado.

Celia began taking piano lessons when she was about nine. Her mother cleaned houses to help pay for her piano classes. The first thing she learned to play was the hymn “Cariñoso Salvador” in four parts. This began her passion for music and playing in church. 

The first Vacation Bible School she attended was in Mancos, Colorado at the age of 12.  The teacher and pianist was Rebecca Bazan. Celia remembers her ministry and feeling like she wanted to do what Rebecca was doing. This is where her desire to grow in the Lord began. 

When she was 13 years old, she received baptism in the Holy Spirit. She had gone to Durango, Colorado as the pianist for a revival. She remembers that she was wearing a white dress.  Then suddenly while in prayer, she was knocked to the floor speaking in tongues, she got her white dress all dirty. This was a big deal for her because she was very aware of always being prim and proper.  

Celia graduated from high school and went on to LABI in Isleta, Texas.  She attended LABI for three years. Here she met my best friend Charlotte Pacheco Garza, and of course, the love of her life Nestor Sevilla Bazan, who was also very handsome!  She had always wanted to marry a minister and be in ministry, so this is where God placed her to learn about ministry, serving and building relationships. Celia had a piano teacher, Mrs. Ickler, who taught her to play congregational piano. She filled her days with studying, music, and playing the piano when called upon to play. She was unable to go home during the three years she attended LABI. She spent my summers doing Vacation Bible Schools.

During her second year at LABI, she was a part of a trio consisting of Elizabeth Bazån, Ella Hernandez and herself. They traveled to different cities such as Phoenix, Arizona and Roswell, NM. When they went to Roswell it was to minister at Bro. Paul Savages church. There was a young missionary that was going to an orphanage in Egypt. Through her message, she felt a burning in her heart and wept at the altar like she had never wept before. She felt she was being called to be a missionary. Never knowing that her life would be spent with a man that would affect the lives of so many people - a missionary on this side of the world!  This is how God prepared her heart to be open to His calling.  

Nestor and Celia were married on September 12, 1948 and her life was blessed and full as she walked along with her husband for the next 66 years in ministry together.  She never asked him why or where they would go, she trusted the Lord and wanted to be with him and serve alongside him. He was the love of her life and she followed him wherever God led him in ministry. That was her calling. They returned to LABI in 1951-1952 where Nestor not only pastored a mission in Isleta but also taught Theology, Homiletics and Celia taught choir and piano. They also served as counselors for the students. They ministered in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California and Texas. They not only built churches in Albuquerque, NM, Salt Lake City, Utah and Rio Hondo, Texas but they were used by God to rebuild many lives. Celia stood by her husband while he served as Superintendent for the Central Latin American District Council for seven years. They served together until the Lord took him home on June 24, 2014. 

Celia lived a happy fulfilled life living with her daughter and son-in-law Sandra Marveen and Dan Trevino, until she joined Nestor and her blessed Savior on March 24, 2021.

She loved spending time with her family, talking to people about Jesus and especially being around her great grandchildren who often came to visit. 

A “come and go” visitation will be held on Friday, April 2, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. Only a limited number of guests will be allowed to enter the funeral home facility at any one time to maintain social distancing.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Celia’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/celia-bazan. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location.

Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park.

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