Celerina Oreste Repique

Celerina Oreste Repique, 86, born on November 10, 1930, in Guinayangan, Quezon, Philippines, passed away December 13, 2016. She resided in Los Angeles, Calilfornia at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Glendale, California.

Celerina Oreste was born on November 10th, 1930, in Guinayangan, Quezon, Philippines. She had nine siblings: Adelaida, Virgilio, Melca, Romeo, Benjamin, Aida, Samuel, Dalisay, and Rhodora. They lived right on the beach, where her father owned a fishing business and a general store. Celerina was a responsible daughter and sister, taking care of household chores and her younger siblings. With her intelligence and a studious nature, Celerina excelled at school, usually finishing at or near the top of her class. Despite missing some school due to World War II, she completed high school in 3 years, graduating as her class salutatorian. She earned her RN in 1954 from the Manila Sanitarium and Hospital. Celerina began her nursing career as an operating room nurse, supervisor, and instructor. She loved her work in the O.R.; so much, in fact, that she was an O.R. nurse for over 50 years.

There at the San, a young man named Eliseo Repique began to pay visits to the nurses' dorm. Celerina always "managed to be somewhere else" whenever Ely arrived. That is, until her dorm mother ordered her to be present when Mr. Repique was to visit.

In 1956, Cely received an opportunity to travel to the United States to study operating room techniques. She arrived in Los Angeles on a Friday and was at work bright and early Monday morning at the White Memorial Medical Center. The next year, the infamous Mr. Repique followed her to the U.S., and in 1958 Cely and Ely were married. They had 3 children: Charlene Joan, Lorelei Joyce, and Jeanelle Kathleen. In 1974 Cely began working at Glendale Adventist Medical Center where she remained for the remainder of her career.

Maintaining an active church life with her family at Vallejo Drive Seventh-day Adventist Church, Cely served as a deaconess and greeter on top of a busy schedule of children's music lessons, school programs, and all that goes along with parenting. Being a Seventh-day Adventist was more than just a label, more than just being a church member for Cely. She had a strong belief and a deep faith in God, in the promise of salvation. She lived her life walking with God, talking with God. She sacrificed her own comforts to send all three daughters to church school from first grade through college.

In 1988 the family expanded again, when Lorelei married Gregory Bietz, and then again in 2001, when Charlene married Edward Schroder. Granddaughter AnnElise Schroder arrived in 2003. Cely's nurturing extended beyond her immediate family unit. She also mentored and mothered her sisters, nieces and nephews, coworkers, fellow church members, friends, and children's friends.

Cely loved to host events at the family home; a favorite event was a much anticipated annual holiday luncheon for senior citizens from the church. As the extended family grew through marriages, births, and immigration, and also included friends and coworkers, Thanksgiving dinners of epic size overflowed into the back yard, often with 60 or 70 people for many years running.

As much as Cely and Ely enjoyed their time at home, they still loved to travel to see places they'd read or heard about. And they almost never went anywhere without their three girls. Some of the most memorable family vacations were the road trip to Canada in 1981, their first visit to Europe in 1987, Australia in the 1990's, and China in 2003.

In 2007 Cely was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. After many years under Ely's care at home, she moved to Solheim Lutheran Home in 2013. Her caretakers described her as sweet with a beautiful smile. On December 11th, 2016, Cely was admitted to Glendale Adventist Medical Center with severe pneumonia. She fell asleep in Jesus on the morning of December 13th, 2016.

She was loved by many and will be greatly missed, especially by her husband of 58 years, Eliseo; her children, Charlene and Ed, Lorelei and Greg, and Kathy; her granddaughter, Annie; her sisters Aida, Daisy, and Dorie; and her brother Ben; as well as many other relatives and friends. We wait for the resurrection morning, when we know we will see her again.

A private family burial took place on December 23rd, 2016. A public memorial service will take place in February of 2017. Details will be given when they become available. .