Rilla Ann Cetti

Rilla Cetti, 83, passed away at home on May 14, 2025. She was born to Elaine and Merwin Ludeman in Stewart, Minnesota. Rilla and her mom moved to Santa Barbara when Rilla was young. Her father was a WWII veteran and was MIA and unfortunately never returned home to meet his daughter. Rilla was survived by her three children, Michelle (Mike), Gisele (Joey) and Paul (Kristen). She also left 8 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Rilla met her husband, Leonard, in high school, graduated from Catholic High, went on to get her nursing degree from City of Angels and was married in 1962 at the Santa Barbara Old Mission. They purchased a new home in Goleta/Winchester Canyon in 1962 and raised their family on Bradford Drive until 2014 when they moved to Orcutt. Rilla’s career started as an Emergency Room nurse at Goleta Valley Community Hospital where she was later promoted to ER Supervisor and was graced with a few other departments before she retired in the late 90’s. Rilla was a caring nurse and even after retirement, she was a nurse at her core. She was very excited when her granddaughter Ciera followed her same career path. Rilla and Leonard moved to Orcutt in 2014. The Goleta house was their foundation, and she moved to Orcutt with a few reservations. She left behind her rose garden, friends and Gisele and replanted a rose garden on their larger lot and she was close to Michelle and Paul. She joined their neighborhood homeowner’s association, was elected as secretary and became close friends with Rob and Margie Fulton. She enjoyed attending the Melodrama with them and after Leonard passed in 2022, was included in their celebratory dinners. Rilla touched a lot of lives with her no nonsense, no drama way of life. If you got hurt a little, you snuck into the bathroom to take care of it quietly, so she didn’t get you with the antiseptic pumice sponge! If you got hurt worse, her calm personality coupled with her knowledge and care would ensure that you would be okay. Rilla kept a logbook with everyone’s (and their spouses) birthdays. All 35 of us were blessed with a birthday card and a gift. She never forgot any of us. We were further blessed with the foundation of a strong and caring family. Rilla and Leonard were married for 59 years when Leonard passed. She missed Leonard greatly after he passed in 2022. The last entry in her diary was to Leonard “after I get to see you again, I really want to meet my dad.” She will be forever in our hearts until we meet again. A private graveside service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara. A celebration of life is being planned for this summer.

Rilla Ann Cetti

January 13, 1942 - May 14, 2025