Palmita ‘Bella’ Sanchez

Palmita, better known as Bella was born and raised in Mountain View, California. She was one of eleven children. Her parents Manuel and Dulcenombre Diaz immigrated from Spain.

She started working early in life in orchards with her mother than later in the fish canneries in Monterey, California. Bella loved to dance and met her future husband Pete Sanchez with some friends. They married, bought a house in Pacific Grove where they raised three sons. Bella and Pete moved to Santa Barbara in the 1970s to be near where their sons had moved. They spent more than thirty years at the Edgerly Arms apartments behind the Moose Lodge where they formed many friendships in their retired life.

Bella was preceded in death by her son Gregory, all ten siblings, and husband Pete. She is survived by her two sons Michael and Ron, daughters in law Gail and Nancy, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was a devoted wife and mother and her funny, feisty personality will be missed by many. She lived her last two years at the Californian nursing home where the entire staff always met her needs with excellent care. A private burial will be held by immediate family.