Celestino Rivera

Celestino is survived by his cherished wife of 42 years, Julia Rivera (nee Gruninger); his sons, Mark Rivera (Kathy) and Christopher Rivera; grandsons, Nolan, Tyler, and Aiden; his mother, Iris Rivera (née Fernandez); his brother, Franky Rivera (Karen); his sisters, Maria Servatius (Rick) and Digna Suder (Bill); his brothers-in-law, Joe Gruninger (Maria), Jeff Gruninger (Shannon), Jim Gruninger (Marilyn), and Jeremy Gruninger (Maria); as well as 19 nieces and nephews, and 9 great-nieces and great-nephews.

To his parents and siblings, he was Junior. To his friends, he was Cel or Sal. Celestino attended Saint Peter the Apostle Grade School and graduated from Mercy Vocational High School with the Class of 1979. After high school, he pursued welding school and worked briefly as a welder. He later spent several years as a courier driver. However, his true career was as a bus operator for SEPTA, a position he held with pride and dedication from 1985 until his retirement in 2018, after more than 32 years of service. Celestino deeply loved his work at SEPTA and cherished the many friendships he made along the way.

Celestino met the love of his life, Julia, when he moved into her neighborhood in the fifth grade. Their connection grew over the years, and they began dating in 1979, marrying in 1982. Together, they built a beautiful family and were blessed with two sons, Mark and Christopher. In 2010, his son Mark married, and Celestino joyfully embraced his role as a grandfather to three beloved grandsons.

Known for his extroverted and warm personality, Celestino never met a stranger—he had a story for every occasion and always "knew someone." He was generous with his time and talents, always ready to lend a helping hand. A true handyman, Celestino often put his plumbing skills to use whenever needed, ensuring others were cared for.

Celestino had a deep love for travel. He often joked, "My wife does the planning, and I just show up." His first big trip was to Disney World when his sons were 7 and 2 years old. Reflecting on that experience, he told his wife, "I never thought I would travel like this," and from then on, yearly vacations became a cherished family tradition. Over the years, Cel visited remarkable destinations, including Puerto Rico, Cancun, Los Cabos, London, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and St. John. He also had a passion for cruising, where he would inevitably make new friends at the casino. Some of his favorite trips were with his brothers-in-law, traveling to cities like Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Dallas to attend football games.

Celestino also loved playing cards, a pastime that brought him immense joy. Whether it was games with his co-workers at the bus depot or sessions with Grandmom D during her visits, card-playing was a way for him to connect and have fun. It was a stroke of luck that he married into a family of avid card players, where his passion fit right in.

A diehard Eagles fan, Celestino cherished watching games with his father-in-law, sharing in the highs and lows of Philadelphia football. One of his favorite memories was celebrating his 61st birthday with a special trip to the Football Hall of Fame.

As Alzheimer's disease progressed, it robbed Celestino of the joys that had defined his life - his love for cards, the excitement of football games, and the ability to share his vibrant stories. Yet even in the face of this difficult journey, the warmth, love, and joy he brought to those around him remain his lasting legacy.

To Cel,

We'll tell the stories now. That is how you live on. I'll borrow some words from a song by Disturbed called "Hold onto Memories"

"And hold on to memories

Hold on to every moment

To keep them alive

The world's greatest tragedy

Souls who are not remembered

Cannot survive"

The memories of the last 45 years will play inside my head like a favorite movie or song. I hope you have enough cherished memories with us to fill your last seven minutes and they are powerful enough to carry you home. You are loved and will be remembered always.

- Your loving wife, Julia

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Association:

https://act.alz.org/goto/Celestino_Rivera

Family and friends are invited to attend his memorial visitation Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 1795 Columbia Avenue, Warrington, PA 18976, from 10:00am - 11:00am. Followed by the Mass at 11:00am and the inurnment at 12:30pm at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3301 W. Cheltenham Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19150.

In remembrance of Celestino, Julia kindly requests that attendees wear Eagles green or an Eagles jersey to honor his love for the team.

Recommended hotel for those traveling for services: Hampton Inn & Suites 201 Metro Drive Warrington, PA 18976 215-491-0700