A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Celeste Donohue, D.C., was celebrated October 19, 2017, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmitsburg. Sister Celeste died October 16, 2017, at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg. She was 92 years of age and 74 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Baltimore, Md., on January 6, 1925, Sister Celeste (baptized Mabel Catherine) was one of six (she and her brother Jack were fraternal twins) children born to William R. and Mabel (Kerney) Donohue.
A 1942 graduate of Seton High School in Baltimore, Sister Celeste entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in December 1942. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, in 1962 and her Master of Arts Degree in European History from the University of Detroit, Detroit, Mich., in 1970.
Following initial formation, Sister Celeste was missioned to Cambridge, Mass., to teach at St. Vincent School (1944 to 1948) and Immaculate Conception School (1948 to 1952); St. Ann School, Bridgeport, Conn., (1952 to 1956); and St. Ambrose School, Endicott, N.Y., (1956 to 1957). Sister served as Principal at St. Peter Cathedral School, Wilmington, Del, (1957 to 1960; while at St. Peter, Sister served as the Local Community Superior); and Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Washington, D.C., (1960 to 1961; while at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Sister served as the Local Community Superior). Following time for study, Sister taught in secondary schools at Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, Md., (1962 to 1970); and Gibbons High School, Petersburg, Va., (1970 to 1981). Sister served as Assistant Principal and Teacher at Holy Cross Regional High School, Lynchburg, Va., (1981 to 1985).
Sister Celeste ministered as a Docent at the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg two times, (1985 to 1986 and 1988 to 1990). She also ministered as a Patient Visitor at Providence Hospital, Washington, D.C., (1986 to 1988); and as a Pastoral Minister to the Elderly at St. Pius X Parish, Greensboro, N.C., (1990 to 1998). Sister entered the Ministry of Prayer at Villa St. Michael in 1998, where she served there until the time of her death.
Sister Celeste was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Robert, her twin Jack, Joseph, and Thomas; and her sister, Sister Joseph Mary Donohue, S.N.D., who lived her out senior years at St. Catherine’s Skilled Nursing Home adjacent to Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg. Sister Celeste is survived by nieces, nephews; and her Sisters in Community.