Celestine Marie Otis

b. 8/3/1962 – d. 8/10/2026 @ 2:40am – Age 64

Celestine was known as Cel or Celly or Sally. Regardless of how she was addressed she was loved in sickness and in health. Cel was a beautiful girl who was betrayed by her body. Over the years she gradually lost the ability to walk and to stand. At the end she was tethered to a bed with crippled hands, feet and knees. Her mind remained sharp throughout her entire life. While she lost the ability to interact with the physical world she lived vicariously through others by phone, text and social media. Family was of utmost importance to Cel. Cel loved and was loved by all her family. First, she was loved by her parents Joe and Flo. Flo was a kind Catholic woman taken from this earth way too soon and Cel’s father carried on. They raised six smart and successful children. Cel loved each opportunity to talk to her brothers, Narcy, Joe and Chris. Sisters have a special bond and the calls from Linda and Terry were especially cherished. At the end of Cel’s life the morning calls she had with her sister Terry, while Terry was out walking, were especially important to Cel. Each spouse and niece and nephew the brothers added to Cel’s life were cherished by Cel more than they will ever fully realize.

Cel cherished the late night calls with her son Sam. Not only did these calls keep Sam alert while driving all night to support his own family, but it was a chance to spend time with youngest child. They shared the latest news of what was going on with Sam and Rachel, his wife, who dotes on their children. How Cel loved Jacob and Paige. Jacob is a kind and loving grandchild who is so polite and caring for his little sister Paige. Paige a little independent soul who knows just what she wants.

Cel loved her daughter, Crystal. The bond between a mother and daughter is so strong. A casual and relaxed relationship that brought so much to Cel. Over the years Cel was uplifted by the many visits from Crystal’s boys Weston and Ethan. These boys spent a lot of time physically in the presence of their grandmother. Weston is such a happy and uplifting boy that shared his energy with his grandmother. Ethan had the special opportunity to live with his Nana, Cel. Little things like conversations, getting her a drink and helping to reposition his Nana in her bed brought such joy to Cel. Crystal not only brought her partner Eric into our lives, but added Hunter and Eric, Junior. These boys each added to Cel’s life experience.

Cel’s first born child, Jim. So successful and driven and sharp. Constructing a ramp to get her in his mother’s wheelchair into his home was just one gesture of love which manifested itself over the years. Jim brought his wife Rachel into our lives. A woman who balances a career, a household, a relationship, and family life. You can call her a superwoman, a multitasker, or a modern woman, but Cel just called her a daughter-in-law she loved dearly. Jim and Rachel brought three grandchildren into Cel’s life. Olivia, Constance and Elijah are such smart and loving people. I trust they know how much they were loved by their Nana, Cel.

Cel’s story would not be complete without mentioning the many dogs she loved throughout the years. Sadie, Casper, Calliope, Apollo and Bella were of special lasting significance. You need only to look at a list of Cel’s passwords over the years to confirm this fact. Little Bella’s insistence on spending each night laying with Cel in her bed brought Cel a physical joy and warmth. A simple pleasure that brought such satisfaction to Cel and Bella. Apollo and Bella feel such a loss by her passing as have we all.

Finally, about my relationship with Cel. My name is Ed and I am Cel’s husband. I met Cel and was immediately attracted to her beauty and charm and we quickly fell in love. Now after 45 years of marriage, it is so hard to imagine life going forward without her. When I was growing up it was said that my little sister, Debbie, was my best friend and my worst enemy. When you love someone so intensely the slightest praise or slight is magnified logarithmically. Cel became my best friend and my worst enemy, but understand the love was so much more than all of the little disagreements. She was the ying to my yang. We complimented each other in so many ways by being different in so many ways. This made us pretty unbeatable in games of trivia, lol. She humbled me with her brilliance and her love in a fashion I fear I will never know again.

All of these relationships were so critical to Cel that these words today cannot adequately express how they were Cel’s life. These relations were the very essence of her existence. Cel had a successful life because she loved and was loved to a degree few of us achieve in life. More than a few tears fell writing these prose for those us living on and being poorer for it now that Cel is existing only in our memories. Cel, we know you loved us and we continue to love you. You will be so missed