Celine Regina Stephen

On October 21st, 1941, Raju Dorairaju of Bangalore and Rosemary Leonie Dorairaju, nee Reddiar, of Pondicherry, welcomed their fourth child (2 sorrowfully passed) into the world. She was a daughter, and they named her Celine. Raju was a successful jeweler and had his treasured daughters, Leela first and then Celine, chauffeured all around the city. Eventually, the couple had another daughter, Chandra, their first son, Thava, and then came Mohan, Kanmani, and finally, Nehru.

After a happy schooling at St. Joseph’s Convent, it was time for Celine to marry. Interestingly enough, after her elder sister’s wedding, she soon started attending 6:30 am mass – a new and curious practice for her! Apparently, she had met a quiet, pious engineer named Stephen amongst her new in-laws. Her brothers joked that she became an “outstanding” Catholic –standing outside the church for time with him! While their akka and Stephen were too afraid to talk much, they enjoyed silent glances before enlisting Nehru as post boy to pass letters back and forth.

Celine and Stephen wed on her birthday in 1959 and lived in Bangalore where they welcomed their first daughter, Sundari, in 1960. Followed by a son, Babu, they completed their family with a second set of kids – Nimmi and Ravi. Celine was a devoted Catholic woman and wife, and while she wasn’t one to cook fancy meals and was a reserved parent, as was common for the time, she carried out her duties with fortitude and commitment.

Life took a rougher turn when her dad passed unexpectedly, and the couple had their hands full making sure the siblings on both sides got married. When this task was complete, they cultivated their connection with the church - Celine was well-respected as a fundraiser and administrator and her and Stephen enjoyed the rich social life that came along with their involvement.

They left for the States in 1977 and eventually settled in Fresno to start their life of service in the elderly care home business. Life with her austere husband called for some adaptation and she persevered through her faith and commitment to her family. She managed the business alongside Stephen, went to mass daily, and hosted all the visiting priests, particularly those from India.

After deeply grieving Stephen’s passing in 2014, she experienced a revival in her later years. She lit up around her ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren and more than one of them noted that through the senior center she had even more friends than they did! Celine, Mom, Mama - a complex and perhaps enigmatic figure. She was lively and social, but of few words at times. She always enjoyed her fair share of chatting, hosting Sunday lunch every week, but she also grappled with life’s hardships. While she felt deeply, she kept her focus simple, always guided by Jesus’s teachings when adversity came.

We saw her strength most apparently when she suffered a stroke two years ago. The doctors said she would be permanently incapacitated; she couldn’t speak or move. Even so, her children and grandchildren did not give up on her, nor she on them. Against all odds, she regained complete functionality and graced us with 2.5 more healthy years. She was a woman of faith, and she proved that miracles do indeed exist, and God blesses those who stand humbly before him. There is no question that she left us to walk in peace with the Lord, where her heart always lay.

A prayer service for Celine will be held Friday, November 8, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM at Boice Funeral Home, 308 Pollasky Ave, Clovis, CA 93612, followed by visitation at 9:30 AM,

A mass of christian burial will occur Friday, November 8, 2024 at 11:30 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 816 Pottle Ave, Fresno, CA 93706, followed by the committal service at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, 264 N Blythe Ave, Fresno, CA 93706.