Celesta Hazel Bernard

Celesta was born February 15, 1935 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania to Winfield and Phyllis (Smith) McClure. She graduated high school in 1953, married in 1954 and had her daughter, Robyn, in 1955. Celesta had a courageous nature - After a divorce in 1967, she pulled up stakes in upstate New York and put everything she could into her Ford Fairlane (including the dog), and she and Robyn headed for Miami, Florida to start over. After establishing herself with a home, she found a job with South Florida Hospital Association, where she met Barbara Bernard (West). Through Barbara, Celesta met the love of her life, Herbert Bernard, in 1969. They found in each other what they both were missing and married in 1970. Together, they enjoyed a life filled with love, travel, fun and deep companionship that lasted for 43 years until Herbert’s passing in 2013.

Celesta and Herbert loved to take cruises and road trips. When their cherished granddaughter, Shannon, came along in 1992, they included her in their adventures as well until Shannon went to college - but the closeness they shared never wavered. For most of her life Celesta loved sewing, an ability she learned from her grandmother, and passed it on to her daughter, Robyn. Celesta made most of her own clothes, as well as Robyn’s, and eventually made many clothes for Shannon. Celesta enjoyed weekly card games with Herbert, good friends and family.

Celesta and Herbert were long time members of the Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach, but after Herbert’s passing and time marched on, it became difficult to attend, however she always spoke of their time there with affection.

Celesta is survived by her daughter, Robyn Raustad, step-daughters Barbara West and Susan Ricker, her beloved granddaughter Shannon Raustad-Lorenzana (Alan), as well as two step-grandsons and two step-great grandsons. Celesta was a warm, caring woman with a good sense of humor and will be missed by everyone who knew her, but will rejoice knowing that she is again with her beloved Herb.