Gilda E. Celini of Port Chester, NY passed away on December 6. Born in Picinisco (Province of Frosinone) Italy on August 13, 1929, to the late Achille and Rosalba Alonzi.
She immigrated to the United States in 1949. On April 16, 1950, she married Alberino P. Celini (deceased in 2001) at Holy Rosary Church in Port Chester. Gilda brought joy and laughter to every family gathering. An exceptional gourmet cook with a gregarious sense of humor, gatherings were truly memorable events. She was a member of Corpus Christi Church in Port Chester where she sang in the church choir for many years. She dispensed love, wisdom and humor to everyone and was generous in her care and prayers for her family and friends. She demonstrated great love in caring for her husband, Alberino, when he was disabled from a stroke. Later in life she suffered health challenges from dementia with courage and the help of her devoted daughter Lillian, her husband John, and her sons, Tony and Al. Her sisters and brother gave her daily encouragement and love. The illness of dementia led to a long road of challenges where she was lovingly cared for by several devoted caregivers. Her joy was her children and grandchildren. All will miss her greatly.
She is survived by two sons and a daughter, Anthony Celini (Nancie) of Bloomingdale, NJ, Lillian Adimari (John) of Greenwich, CT and Alberino Celini (Janet) of Yardley, PA. She is also survived by nine loving grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, many loving nieces, nephews and two dear sisters – Rosalba DiPalma and Gemma DiPalma of Port Chester NY. Her sister Fiorentina D’Ambrosio of Picinisco, Italy and brother, Achille Alonzi of Port Chester predeceased her.
The Family received friends and family at Craft Memorial Home in Port Chester on Sunday, December 11. A funeral mass was held Monday, December 12 at Corpus Christi/St. John Bosco Church in Port Chester.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in tribute to her memory at the Alzheimer’s Association, act.alz.org
