IN MEMORY OF ATWATER’S CESIAH BRAULIA LANE 1924 - 2012

by Laura Crockett

Cesiah Braulia Bracero was born in Puerto Rico in 1924. She was the fifth daughter of Rafael and Elvira Bracero. In 1929, her mother died of TB. Cesiah went to school in PR and then when a teenager, joined her sisters at a school in Havana, Cuba. At 19 she was sent to Californiato live with her sisters, Abda and then Hilda, both who were married and had young children. My mother was sent to help these young mothers out. My aunts lived in a small town in northern California. It was here that my mom met, and then married my father, James Crockett. After birthing two children, my brother and me, Cesiah and Jim moved to Los Angeles, where they divorced in 1955. Jim returned to living in northern California, taking his son and daughter with him. Cesiah remained in Los Angeles.

For a few years, Mom worked in various professional offices. Then, in the early 1960's, she went to work for Bruce Duncan and Company, import and export brokers. It was here that she met her fate, in the name of Sho Saito. Several years later, Sho and Mom opened their own firm, Cal-Asia International Custom House Brokers. Sho was a friend of Mr. Honda, so with this account in hand, the company started and thrived. Because of her business, Mom traveled throughout Europe and the Mediterranean countries. She retired and sold her interest in the business in the mid 1980's.

Mom lived in Atwater Village most of her adult life. She loved the neighborhood for its charm and closeness to the downtown area, where she worked, and to Dodger Stadium, where she liked to play. Indeed, it was the Dodgers that gave her the most pleasure even when Alzheimer's began to rob her of her ability to follow plots on TV programs or movies.

Mom's really big passion was dancing. If there was a dance to go to, she went. No if, ands or buts about it. She loved to move her feet and her body. She was, naturally, particularly fond of salsa dancing. The mambo and the tango were her delights. As soon as the music would start to play, she would get up and move.

Cesiah loved history. She helped to organize the historical society of Atwater Village. She protested the destruction of the old Franciscan Pottery factory on Los Feliz and the closure of the Van de Kamp restaurant and bakery. After living in Atwater Village for 50 years, she was a part of its history! She lived first on Boyce, with her sister, then on Glen Feliz, then back to Boyce. She purchased her duplex home on Brunswick in 1970. It was in this home that she passed away on March 7.

Cesiah is survived by one full sister who lives in Texas, a half sister, also in Texas, and half-brother in Los Angeles; her son, James Junior, her granddaughter Christina, her grandson Nick, two great grand children, several nieces and nephews, cousins and me.

Cesiah was tough, yet she was vulnerable. She was a working woman when there were few to be found. She went into business when there were even fewer women to be seen taking such risks and making it a success. Cesiah lived life by her own rules, never stopping to look back. She missed her mother for 82 years. I think she no longer misses her sweet mother.

Memorial Service

Mom loved a good party. She loved dancing!  She loved Atwater Village. Therefore it is appropriate to honor her memory with a party in Atwater Village. Her birthday is June 9. That is the date we have set for her memorial party. We have not, as yet, chosen a venue for this event, but will do so soon.

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