Obituary of Salvatore Celeste

Salvatore Celeste, beloved husband of Alva Celeste, died peacefully on Tuesday October 6, 2015 surrounded by his family, following an extended illness. He was 86 Born in the North End of Boston on October 20, 1928, Sal was the son of Philip and Josephine “Pepina” Celeste from Riasi, Sicily. He grew up in East Boston with his brothers and sister, Gaetano “Tony”, Joseph, Angelo, Mary, Vincent, Charles and Albert. He attended East Boston High School. Following high school, he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Dix. In 1952, he met his perfect dance partner in Alva May Wallis. As they breezed across the dance floor, a special bond was formed, the kind that lasts a lifetime. Sal and Alva were married that same year. They had two children, Debra and Salvatore. Sal worked for the US Postal Service in the South Postal Annex in Boston for over 30 years, retiring in 1997. To Sal, family was everything and he was proud of his Italian heritage. He was a loving father to his children. He delighted in his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved good food and would always say the best raviolis were made by his mother Pepina in East Boston. He was a lover of classic movies and an avid sports fan. He enjoyed nothing more than a good political or sports debate. In addition to his wife of 63 years, Alva, he leaves behind his brother Albert and his wife Grace Celeste, his daughter, Debra and her husband James DiVincenzo, his son Salvatore and his wife Elizabeth, his grandchildren, Kimberly and her husband Nate Lewit, Lindsay and her husband Rian McFadden, and Olivia Celeste, as well as his great grandchildren Griffin and Gemma McFadden. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Sunday from 4 – 7 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. His Funeral Service will be held on Monday at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, 185 Lake St., Peabody. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Epilepsy Foundation of MA/RI, 95 Berkley St., Suite 409, Boston, MA 02116.