Ma Ismaelita J. Celestial

Ma. Ismaelita Jarin Celestial, 85, January 8, 1938 - September 20, 2023. Ismaelita "Baby" Celestial died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, passed at Roper Hospital, Charleston, SC from a torn Aorta. Her family stated that she passed due to a " broken heart", having lost her husband of 59 years in December 2022.

Born on January 08, 1938, in Manila, Philippines she was the oldest daughter of the late Ismael and Carmelita Jarin.

She attended Centro Escolar University (CEU) a private non-sectarian higher education institution in San Miguel, Manila, Philippines. Obtaining her degree in Pharmacy.

She then obtained a work visa to become a pharmacist and medical technician at a prominent hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. It was during this time that she would meet the love of her life, a dashing young US Navy sailor named Conrado "Ady" Celestial. Both from the same town of Kawit, Cavite the 2 never knew one another until a Filipino gathering in Philadelphia, Pa. The couple would marry and at this point she gave up her professional career in pharmacy to then become a wife and homemaker.

As a Navy family they had the opportunity to build their family. Traveling to and stationed in places like, Mechanicsburg (Pa), Alameda and San Diego (Ca), Pearl Harbor (Hi), Taipei (Taiwan), Ponce (Puerto Rico) and finally retiring in Charleston, SC.

In 1976, she was diagnosed with malignant breast cancer and given 5 years to live. As per her wishes she asked to spend the given time with her family and as a result the couple moved to Quezon City, Philippines. As a devoted catholic with a strong conviction to her faith she survived and decided to return to the United States. After a career in the Navy the couple, because of her husband’s career, ended up in Walkersville (Md) and ultimately returned to Goose Creek, South Carolina. They were surrounded by fellow retired Navy families, Brother Masons, and close family friends.

She is survived by a son, Conrad and his wife Ellen, a daughter Catherine, and her husband Tony Esau Fuller. My grandchildren Amanda and Jamie Bretl, Tyler and Kendall Arnold, Savannah and Jared Durning, Katrina Celestial, Ethan Fuller, Connor, and Jonathan Celestial.

Great grandchildren, Charlotte and Cecilia Bretl.

In addition, she is survived by her brother, Hermogenes (Hermi), wife BiBie and her sisters, Virginia (Jean), Marissa, husband Arnold and Maricar, husband Bong, nieces, nephews and preceded in death by her parents and younger sister, Pia.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 28th, 6pm to 8pm with a Novena starting at 6pm at Carolina Funeral Home & Gardens 7113 Rivers Ave, North Charleston,SC,29406. Catholic Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Church, 510 Saint James Ave., Goose Creek, South Carolina, 29445 and Interment will be at Carolina Funeral Home & Gardens 7113 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC,29406. A reception will immediately follow at Immaculate Conception Church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.carolinamemorial.com for the Celestial family.