Sister Celeste (Mabel Catherine) Donohue, age 92, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on October 16, 2017. She was born on January 6, 1925 in Baltimore, Maryland. Sister Celeste was one of six children born to William and Mabel (Kearney) Donohue.
Sister Celeste joined the Daughters of Charity on December 14, 1942 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Her first mission was to serve as a teacher at St. Vincent School in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1944-1952). Several other assignments followed: St. Ann School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Teacher (1952-1956); St. Ambrose School, Endicott, New York, Teacher (1956-1957); St. Peter Cathedral School, Wilmington, Delaware, Principal (1957-1960); Our Lady Queen of Peace School, Washington, D.C., Principal (1960-1961); St. Joseph Provincial House, Emmitsburg, Student (1961-1962); Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, Maryland, Teacher, (1962-1970); Gibbons High School, Petersburg, Virginia, Teacher (1970-1981); Holy Cross Regional High School, Lynchburg, Virginia, Teacher/Assistant Principal (1981-1985); Seton Shrine Center, Emmitsburg, Docent (1985-1986 and 1988-1990); Providence Hospital, Washington, D.C., Patient Visitor (1986-1988); St. Pius X Parish, Greensboro, North Carolina, Pastoral Minister to the Elderly (1990-1998). In 1998 Sister Celeste was missioned to St. Michael Villa in Emmitsburg where she assisted the other sisters, including her own sister, Sister Joseph Mary, SND, who also lived at St. Michael Villa. When Sister Celeste was no longer able to assist the other sisters, she continued living at St. Michael Villa and served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Celeste earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg in 1962 and a Master’s in History from the University of Detroit in 1970.
Sister Celeste was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Robert, twin brother Jack, Joseph, Thomas, and her sister, Sister Joseph Mary, SND. She is survived by nieces and nephews and her Sisters in Community.
A wake service will be held on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, October 19 at 11:00 am in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Celeste’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108. Arrangements have been entrusted to the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME in Emmitsburg.