Celia Galli Mooney

Celia was born on August 8th, 1918 to Antonio C and Mary Moscone Galli, the second of six children. She graduated from Deering High School in 1936 and Westbrook College in 1938. She married the love of her life, Benedict E. Mooney in 1952 and they raised four children.

She belonged to many clubs and organizations in her lifetime and was always willing to lend a hand. In her youth she was a member of the USO volunteer committee and would regale her children in later years with stories of all the fun she had doing her part for the war. She was a member of the St. Patrick’s Church Women’s Council for many years, her children’s PTA, volunteering at Mercy Hospital, working as a volunteer on Election Day and being a member of the Mercy Hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary.

Some of her hobbies included playing Bridge, knitting, reading, dancing, and cooking. (She made the best spaghetti and meatballs around!) But what she loved most was spending time with family. She had a way of making each of her children and grandchildren feel extra special and she loved them all unconditionally. Her family adored her and she will be missed terribly.

She is survived by her four children Thomas Mooney of Gray, Mary Rutherford of Yarmouth, Dorothy Papi and her husband Chris, of Windham, and Joyce Sternitzke and her husband Richard of Herndon, VA. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, Benedict E Mooney and by her brothers Arthur, Norman and James, and sisters Marion Morris, and Dorothy Peverada.

Family and friends are invited to attend a time of visitation on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 10:00 at Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 10:30 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Church, 673 Stevens Ave. Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Celia’s memory to the Barron Center, Activity Fund, 1145 Brighton Ave. Portland ME 04102.