Jeannette Carey Acosta

Jeannette Carmen Carey Acosta was born on September 17, 1941 in Susquehanna County, PA and passed away surrounded by family in Tucson, AZ on January 26, 2024. She graduated from Tucson High School and then married her high school sweetheart, Art Acosta, in 1959. They were married for over 64 years.

Jeannette's Christian faith was central to her life, informed her core values, and defined her closest relationships. And because the beauty of who she was internally was matched by who she was on the outside, she was voted Tucson High's Letterman's Queen and then Rodeo Queen her senior year before becoming an equally stunning bride and mother in the years that followed. She loved to paint, decorate, dance, listen to music (Johnny Mathis in particular), travel across the US, make food for everyone whether they were hungry or not, joke around constantly, and pull faces or do whatever else it took to make those around her laugh. She loved to watch Art coach football, baseball, and softball, and was occasionally kicked out of games or threw ice on others in the stands who were loudly critical of Art's coaching and needed to learn who his wife was the hard (and cold) way.

Jeannette was a spicy little lady with the world's most expressive eyebrows, but was also tough, loving, understanding, kind, and managed to stubbornly survive innumerable health threats and conditions over the decades that would have felled those with less robust constitutions. She was a business owner who ran her own childcare center for many years while simultaneously raising her kids and helping to raise her grandkids. Jeannette adored making art of all kinds, but loved making out with Art, the love of her life, even more (it was no secret to any of us why they ended up with so many kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids).

Jeannette/Mom/Nana was preceded in death by her parents, Casper & Refugia Cocio Carey; her brother, George Carey (Carol); and her sister, Myrtle Goulding (John). She is survived by her loving husband; her four children, Michael Acosta (Malena), Arthur John Acosta (Gail), Stephanie Palmer (Shane), and Michele Acosta Thompson (Jason); her 12 grandchildren, Patricia Jeannette/PJ, Robert, Ben, Gabriel, Jessica Carmen, Jennifer, Jess, John, Sonja, Sierra, Makena, and Stella; her 7 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. We all love and miss you, Momma. "Friends 'til the end."

Visitation at Carrillo Mortuary on Sunday, 2/11 from 5-9pm, with a celebration of life at 7pm. Funeral services at Carrillo on Monday, 2/12 at 9:30am, with burial at South Lawn at 11am, and a gathering to follow at Grace to the Nations church at 12:30pm. Flowers and/or contributions to the Alzheimer's Association or HFC (Hilarity for Charity) are all welcome.