CELESTE was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, the family moved to New York City in 1936 on board the S.S. Borinquen. She went to school in New York and the actress Lauren Bacall was a classmate. She was very popular in school, learned to speak without an accent and had perfect manners and was a "lady" in every sense of the word. Her sisters and brothers seemed to pair off as "best friends" and she bonded with her younger sister Estrellita. For the rest of her life, the two women were extremely close, sharing major holidays and events together.
During World War II she volunteered for the war effort by working the assembly line of the Hudson-American Corporation. About 1943 she began work at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York as an elevator operator. She was discovered there and was hired as a "DuBarry" model for lady's suits and hair and beauty products. Occasionally she was told that she looked like the actress Dorothy Lamour. Celeste was a beautiful lady inside and out.
Along with her sisters, she sang part-time as part of the "Singing Santos Sisters" and enjoyed moderate success in the Los Angeles area. They had an act in Santa Monica at the famous Macayo Night Club.
In 1946, she followed most of the family to California and met Bill Ness who was a weather observer at the Santa Maria Air Base. They went to Butte-Silver Bow, Montana and were married on October 6, 1946, then returned to California and settled in Norwalk. They bought a house on Senwood Street and began a family. They had 3 wonderful children, Tina, Ed and June.
In Norwark, she joined the lady's guild of St. John of God Church on Pioneer Blvd. and enjoyed sewing many of her children's clothes and creating crafts for their home. She adored animals chickens, dogs and even owned a horse for a time. She enjoyed dancing and studied under famous dancer Ruth St. Denis.
Tragically, she was diagnosed with cancer at age 40. Her sister Estrellita brought live musicians into her living room so she could enjoy music she could no longer go out to see. Celeste passed away quietly early in 1967. She touched many lives. She was generous to a fault and went out of her way to help others. She was gracious, loving and had a ready smile and no one made a better spaghetti sauce than Celeste!
Her husband, her 3 children, 4 sisters and 2 brothers survived her.
During World War II she volunteered for the war effort by working the assembly line of the Hudson-American Corporation. About 1943 she began work at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York as an elevator operator. She was discovered there and was hired as a "DuBarry" model for lady's suits and hair and beauty products. Occasionally she was told that she looked like the actress Dorothy Lamour. Celeste was a beautiful lady inside and out.
Along with her sisters, she sang part-time as part of the "Singing Santos Sisters" and enjoyed moderate success in the Los Angeles area. They had an act in Santa Monica at the famous Macayo Night Club.
In 1946, she followed most of the family to California and met Bill Ness who was a weather observer at the Santa Maria Air Base. They went to Butte-Silver Bow, Montana and were married on October 6, 1946, then returned to California and settled in Norwalk. They bought a house on Senwood Street and began a family. They had 3 wonderful children, Tina, Ed and June.
In Norwark, she joined the lady's guild of St. John of God Church on Pioneer Blvd. and enjoyed sewing many of her children's clothes and creating crafts for their home. She adored animals chickens, dogs and even owned a horse for a time. She enjoyed dancing and studied under famous dancer Ruth St. Denis.
Tragically, she was diagnosed with cancer at age 40. Her sister Estrellita brought live musicians into her living room so she could enjoy music she could no longer go out to see. Celeste passed away quietly early in 1967. She touched many lives. She was generous to a fault and went out of her way to help others. She was gracious, loving and had a ready smile and no one made a better spaghetti sauce than Celeste!
Her husband, her 3 children, 4 sisters and 2 brothers survived her.
CELESTE was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, the family moved to New York City in 1936 on board the S.S. Borinquen. She went to school in New York and the actress Lauren Bacall was a classmate. She was very popular in school, learned to speak without an accent and had perfect manners and was a "lady" in every sense of the word. Her sisters and brothers seemed to pair off as "best friends" and she bonded with her younger sister Estrellita. For the rest of her life, the two women were extremely close, sharing major holidays and events together.
During World War II she volunteered for the war effort by working the assembly line of the Hudson-American Corporation. About 1943 she began work at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York as an elevator operator. She was discovered there and was hired as a "DuBarry" model for lady's suits and hair and beauty products. Occasionally she was told that she looked like the actress Dorothy Lamour. Celeste was a beautiful lady inside and out.
Along with her sisters, she sang part-time as part of the "Singing Santos Sisters" and enjoyed moderate success in the Los Angeles area. They had an act in Santa Monica at the famous Macayo Night Club.
In 1946, she followed most of the family to California and met Bill Ness who was a weather observer at the Santa Maria Air Base. They went to Butte-Silver Bow, Montana and were married on October 6, 1946, then returned to California and settled in Norwalk. They bought a house on Senwood Street and began a family. They had 3 wonderful children, Tina, Ed and June.
In Norwark, she joined the lady's guild of St. John of God Church on Pioneer Blvd. and enjoyed sewing many of her children's clothes and creating crafts for their home. She adored animals chickens, dogs and even owned a horse for a time. She enjoyed dancing and studied under famous dancer Ruth St. Denis.
Tragically, she was diagnosed with cancer at age 40. Her sister Estrellita brought live musicians into her living room so she could enjoy music she could no longer go out to see. Celeste passed away quietly early in 1967. She touched many lives. She was generous to a fault and went out of her way to help others. She was gracious, loving and had a ready smile and no one made a better spaghetti sauce than Celeste!
Her husband, her 3 children, 4 sisters and 2 brothers survived her.
During World War II she volunteered for the war effort by working the assembly line of the Hudson-American Corporation. About 1943 she began work at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York as an elevator operator. She was discovered there and was hired as a "DuBarry" model for lady's suits and hair and beauty products. Occasionally she was told that she looked like the actress Dorothy Lamour. Celeste was a beautiful lady inside and out.
Along with her sisters, she sang part-time as part of the "Singing Santos Sisters" and enjoyed moderate success in the Los Angeles area. They had an act in Santa Monica at the famous Macayo Night Club.
In 1946, she followed most of the family to California and met Bill Ness who was a weather observer at the Santa Maria Air Base. They went to Butte-Silver Bow, Montana and were married on October 6, 1946, then returned to California and settled in Norwalk. They bought a house on Senwood Street and began a family. They had 3 wonderful children, Tina, Ed and June.
In Norwark, she joined the lady's guild of St. John of God Church on Pioneer Blvd. and enjoyed sewing many of her children's clothes and creating crafts for their home. She adored animals chickens, dogs and even owned a horse for a time. She enjoyed dancing and studied under famous dancer Ruth St. Denis.
Tragically, she was diagnosed with cancer at age 40. Her sister Estrellita brought live musicians into her living room so she could enjoy music she could no longer go out to see. Celeste passed away quietly early in 1967. She touched many lives. She was generous to a fault and went out of her way to help others. She was gracious, loving and had a ready smile and no one made a better spaghetti sauce than Celeste!
Her husband, her 3 children, 4 sisters and 2 brothers survived her.
Inscription
Beloved Wife - Mother
MARY CELESTE NESS
1925-1967
"God is our refuge and strength"
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