Celeste L. Kotter

Celeste Lupinacci Kotter passed away peacefully on March 9, 2025, in Marlin, Texas. You may have heard the commotion as she and Fred were already cutting a rug doing the Jitterbug that very night. Through tears, we celebrated their heavenly reunion, and at the same time, felt the huge void left by her absence.

She was born May 16, 1935, in Highland Park, New Jersey. She grew up as the youngest of three, her siblings being a decade older, and enjoyed spending time with her nephews and nieces. Her family lived in New Jersey for most of her childhood, except for a brief time spent in Utah. She graduated from New Brunswick High School and held several retail jobs where she developed a love of fashion. She also worked as a local photographer for a short time, dragging around a huge speed graphic camera that was bigger than she was.

Her life's journey soon followed a new path after she graduated from high school and married her high school sweetheart, Fred Kotter, in 1954. Then, in 1955, she gave birth to daughter Cathy, became a stay-at-home mom, and Fred supported the family working for Consolidated Business Forms.

In 1965, the couple made the decision to accept an employment offer from Consolidated and the family of three moved to Gastonia, NC. Soon, they were transferred to Clinton, IL where Fred continued his training to become the manager of the new Wallace Business Forms Plant in Marlin, Texas, which happened in 1971. Celeste used to say that she may not have been born in Texas, but she got here as fast as she could.

Celeste dove into the Marlin community head first. She immediately took on numerous roles including president of the Marlin Chamber of Commerce, was appointed by President George Bush to the Board of Directors of the Brazos River Authority from 1999-2005, served as president of the Falls Community Hospital Auxiliary logging in 5,770 volunteer hours, co-founder of the Auxiliary's Gift Shoppe at the hospital, organized and chaired Marlin Festival Days held in the City Park, worked on several local and national political campaigns, spearheaded the Texas A&M Playground project, led the Faulkner Park revitalization project, volunteered with the Palmer Drug Abuse Program in the Marlin schools, an officer of the First Presbyterian Church, advisory board member of the Marlin Main Street Project, advisory board member of the Marlin Salvation Army, chairperson of the Marlin City Park Commission board, served on the Marlin Economic Development Committee, chairperson on the Criminal Justice Community Justice Assistance Program as well as the Marlin City Board of Adjustments. One of her most rewarding undertakings was working at the Marlin Texas Employment Office for 14 years helping people find employment, counseling them, and then celebrating their successes.

Celeste had many passions including gardening, traveling, horseback riding, photography, dancing, yoga, cooking and music, especially Motown and Big Band. However, her first passion was her family. Daughter Cathy, granddaughters Katie and Amy, great-grandson Jackson Thomas, and husband Fred, were fortunate enough to regularly enjoy her delicious, home-made Italian and Hungarian cuisine. "Food is love!", she would always say.

She was blessed with many friendships along the way as people were drawn to her charm, wit, humor, and feisty spirit. She never met a stranger and welcomed all with open arms.

She was truly as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside and was a perfect example of a life well-lived. Her life was defined by her kindness to all, her warmth, generosity, and deep commitment to her family and her community.

Celeste is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Frederick Jean Kotter; her mother, Elizabeth Ghilino Lupinacci; her father, William Lupinacci; her sister, Marie Kane and husband, Bill Kane; her brother, William "Bill" Lupinacci and wife Merlyn "Lynn" Lupinacci.

She is survived by her daughter Cathleen Kotter; granddaughters Katie Martinelli of Austin and Amy Martinelli, and great-grandson Jackson Thomas Jones of Waco; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and extended family, spread out all over the country, from New Jersey and Maine, to Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Montana, Washington and Alaska.

A celebration of Celeste’s life will take place on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Adams Funeral Home in Marlin, Texas, with a visitation from 1-2 pm; a memorial service at Adams Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Mark Pederson of the Methodist Church at 2 p.m.; followed by a burial at Calvary Cemetery in Marlin.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association (National with local Texas Chapters), Alzheimer's Foundation of America, or the Baylor Scott & White Alzheimer's Disease Research Center or the charity of your choice.