Cecelia (Ceil) Wahler, 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at the HPH Hospice Center in Brooksville, Florida. She was born in St. Albans Queens, New York, September 1,1933. Her father was an Italian immigrant electrician, and general contractor, and her mother was a homemaker. Ceil was the second oldest of four daughters. She was a member of the Catholic church Saint Pascal Baylon in St. Albans Queens, and later a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Park Ridge, New Jersey. She attended Public School 136, and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School, exceling in her secretarial and stenography studies. Ceil went on to commute from Queens (by bus and subway) to her amazing first job at the advertising agency Double Day on Madison Avenue in New York City as an administrative secretary, at only 17 years old.
Ceil was very musical and enjoyed playing the piano from the time she was a teenager and for most of her life. She would play Italian songs for her father, and they would sing together. She met her husband Edward at an Italian Club dance when she was 19, and married on August 25, 1956, at 23 years old. Soon after marriage Ceil and Ed relocated to a new suburban home in Montvale New Jersey. Ceil worked at Hazeltine Electronics until she had her first child in 1959. Together Ceil and Ed raised their five children and supported so many of their children’s school and sports activities including softball, baseball, track, and many years of cheerleading. Ceil and her family enjoyed activities such as vacationing at Lake George New York, singing, attending mass, and listening to music. Once her children were old enough, Ceil returned to the workforce as a Legal Secretary for Mercedes-Benz corporation and was extremely successful in that role supporting corporate law.
In 1987 Ceil and Ed relocated to Spring Hill Florida to support Ed’s new career in teaching elementary school. Ceil became a parishioner at her much-loved St. Joan of Arc Catholic church. Ceil then joined the Pasco County Florida School Board office as an administrative assistant, where she worked for many years. Ceil was an active member of a singing group called Suncoast Harmony and loved being part of the music community, becoming good friends with many of the members. Ceil was an avid reader and loved her tablet to keep up with family on social media. Ceil enjoyed the Florida lifestyle, attending musical shows in Tampa with her husband and daughters, as several of her daughters also became Floridians, living close by. Ceil lived a full life in comfort in her beautiful home, participating in many family milestones both in Florida and in New Jersey. Ceil was blessed to have so many family members, friends, and caregivers in her life, all touching her in so many special ways.
Cecelia was preceded in death by her beloved husband: Edward August Wahler; sister: Jackie Amodio. She is survived by daughter and sons-in-laws: Nancy Wahler Mayfield (Gerald Mayfield); Patricia Wahler Yost (Henry Yost); Cynthia Wahler Sfraga (Michael McLaurine); Sons and daughter-in-laws: Edward Wahler Jr. (Annette Wahler); Joseph Wahler (Victoria Wahler); grandchildren: Dr. Clinton Lauritsen, Angela Holiga (Michael Holiga), Michael Yost, Meghan Sfraga, Brian Wahler, Jack Wahler, Morgan Wahler, Madison Wahler; great grandchildren: Rachel Marie Holiga, Ryan Philip Holiga; sisters: Lillian Semeraro, and Donna MacGilvray.
Ceil was a beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, and Aunt she will be so dearly missed.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am, Friday, April 29, 2022 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow at 12:30pm at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the American Stroke Association, 6405 Metcalf Avenue, #214, Overland Park, KS 66202.
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MERRITT FUNERAL HOME
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA
(352) 686-6649
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