Dates
Celeste Barbara (Centrella) Allen"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend. Teacher, Shelterer, Protector, Spiritual Shepherd.Her early years were in New York's Italian neighborhoods, before a move to Pleasantville where she grew up. She graduated with honors from Albertus Magnus College in 1960, and went to work for the New Haven Register. In New Haven, she met the young Air Force language student who would became her husband, Bill.They married in December 1962 at Goodfellow Air Force Base. Celeste worked at the San Angelo Standard-Times. Daughters Maura and Jane were born here; shortly after, a military assignment took them to the Philippines and Taiwan, where Celeste learned the challenges and joys of life as a military wife and family, and the joys of Chinese cooking. She also met dear friends that became extended family, and with whom Chinese New Year celebrations and Easter Sundays in Junction have been celebrated for decades. The family came back to San Angelo, and Celeste's education career began as a teaching assistant at Fort Concho Elementary in 1973. She went back to school at Angelo State University to pursue her Texas certification and Masters, and then stayed on as part of the Education faculty. Travels to Germany and Greece were highlights, especially when Bill or her family could join her, and trips to Europe and Alaska with the San Antonio bunch. Times spent at the Texas coast with were most treasured.An avid reader and lifelong learner, she treasured her early edition paperbacks as much as a new-age digital copy. She also loved the Bible, and took the opportunity to join the staff of Holy Angels in 2003, after retiring from ASU. She led RCIA classes and Bible studies, and brought many people in to the Church through her efforts, but never stopped her own exploring about God's Grace.She never had a harsh word for anyone, always finding the grace in everyone she encountered. Wisdom, humility and patience were ever at her side. She raised her daughters to be strong, faith-filled and independent, teaching them most by example. Her circle of friends was large. She was the wind beneath all of our wings. Facing a Parkinson's diagnosis, Celeste kept giving, exploring Tai Chi and other programs as part of an ASU study, participating in the local Parkinson's group, and continuing to learn to live with the disease, but not be ruled by it.Celeste was preceded in death by parents, James Celestino and Rosa Mascali Centrella, sisters Genevieve Goble and Mary Ellen Hemphill, and too many nieces and nephews. She is survived by her daughters, Jane Allen, Maura Gast and Maura's husband Marty, of Flower Mound, Texas; sister Bernice Schweinfest of Ossining, NY; nieces and nephews; and her extended military family.Husband Bill was the light of her life; daughters Jane and Maura the true apples of her eye. Son-in-law Marty a joyful addition to the family.It is said that if in a Christian marriage, the husband is the thermostat, then Celeste was truly the radiant barrier. Not necessarily visible to the naked eye, but dutifully protecting all from the extremes. Well done, good and faithful servant.The Memorial Mass will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, February 6, 2015 at Holy Angel's Catholic Church with Rev. Charles Greenwell as celebrant. Inurnment will follow in Holy Angels Columbarium.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be considered for the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Research Foundation or San Angelo's Meals for the Elderly. The family also wishes to extend special thanks to the family that is Holy Angels Parish for their love, care and support, and to the staff of Comfort Keepers for their many kindnesses and great care.