Edna Hobson Cellucci

12-12-1933 – 7-7-2020

Berwyn, PA resident Edna Hobson Cellucci, beloved educator, musician, mother, and wife, passed away in Naples, Florida, surrounded by her family, at the age of 86, on Sunday, June 7, 2020.She will be greatly missed by her husband, of 61 yrs., John R. Cellucci; her daughter, Kathleen Cellucci; her son, John H. Cellucci; many family members, friends and fellow musicians.

Born in Wayne, PA, the daughter of Thomas Hobson and Winnifred Pryor Hobson, she began playing piano at age 3, and at age 7 began her solo singing career. Although she became her high school’s piano accompanist from seven grade thru twelfth grade, it was her second passion, for learning, that earned her the distinction of St. Katherine’s High School Class Valedictorian. Edna received one-half scholarship awards to both Rosemont College & Immaculata College but being partial to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, she chose Immaculata. While there, she declared pre-med as her major, and also met her husband to be, John R. Cellucci, while performing in a school show. She won John’s heart singing one of the songs she wrote at age 15 called “Dancing with You.” In that moment the tall slender brunette with a voice like an angel permanently charmed that young man in the audience. It took him another 5 years to realize that he just couldn’t let her go.

That same year, 1954, Edna realized she could not afford medical school, but being an excellent journalist, she took a job doing re-writes of science research publications. She also took the advice of one of her professors to apply to the Ford Foundation’s teaching program. She passed the national test and was accepted into Temple University where she earned her MA in Education and went on to have a long career in teaching Math & Science to 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. Edna’s thirst for knowledge earned her a second MA in Math & Science, and ultimately a PhD in Education from Widener University in 1992. She kept a 4.0 average for all degrees. Edna made a permanent impression on thousands of students from 1954 to 1992, and it was said by many of her students that “Mrs. Cellucci was the hardest teacher I ever had!” Several of her students credited their career choices to having her as their teacher. One became an astronaut, and one, Jim Cramer, a well-known hedge fund manager and TV pundit on CNBC.

In 1959, Edna married John R. Cellucci, and continued to balance her career as a teacher with the tasks of raising a family and passing along her musical skills to her son John who learned to play drums and guitar, and her daughter Kate who played piano and sang. Edna shared her talent, which she described as a “gift from God,” everywhere she went. She loved to spread joy through music.

As she and her husband traveled the world, Edna and John would perform. In Ireland she played in the pubs, in Italy it was castles; France- churches; Germany- brew houses; Schoolrooms in China and in Russia it was the hotels, but the most entertaining moments were spent at her own homes in Berwyn and Avalon, NJ, where John did the cooking and Edna played and sang. All guests were encouraged to participate in the “Sing-A-Longs”. The family motto was that you had to “Sing for your supper.”

Some of Edna’s professional musical career highlights included accompanying opera singer, Anna Maffo; opening for soul singer, Lou Rawls, at the Latin Casino, NJ; being a guest player at a NYC Night club playing dueling pianos with Peter Nero, founder of the Philly Pops and accompanying Rosemary Clooney, one of the stars from the movie White Christmas. For 5 years in a row Edna opened Ms. Clooney’s annual Christmas Show at the Sands Casino, NJ. After opening the show, she then sang with the chorus with her husband, John, for the remainder of the show. In line with her love of music and entertaining, Edna spent years supporting musical causes such as the Ocean City Pops, where she served on the Board of Directors for approximately 20 years, as well as the Philly Pops, her parish choir, and many other Catholic and educational-related charities and organizations.

Her love of teaching and spreading the joy of music was matched by her kindness and impressive work ethic. Her friends described her as someone with boundless energy, accomplishing the seemingly impossible, and a truly selfless person. As a devoutly Catholic woman, she gave herself to God to be his servant, and as one friend said, she “gave to others until there was no more left to give”.

Funeral Services were held at the St. Katherine of Siena Parish Church in Wayne, PA, beginning at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken.