Antoinette J. “Nettie” Cellini, 87, passed away on Monday morning, June 10, 2019. Nettie was born in Chester, the daughter of Gus and Kay Zangari. She attended St. Anthony’s School and graduated in 1950 from Immaculate Heart Commercial School. In 1956 she married Pete Cellini, also of Chester. Together they raised a family of four children. For many years, Nettie worked as a stay-at-home mom who also ran the business side of Pete’s general contracting company. Initially working as part-time holiday help at JCPenney in Media, Nettie eventually became a full-time employee who filled many roles from the stockroom to the cashroom to the benefits office and accounting office. She retired from JCPenney in 1996.
Next to family, Nettie’s great love was sports; some professional, some college and high school, but all local. An avid fan of Strath Haven Football, she was a stalwart at those games for the better part of three decades. At the college level, no one earned her love and frustration more than the Temple Men’s Basketball team; a team for which she and her daughter had season tickets for several years. Professionally, the Eagles and Phillies got most of her attention. Her understanding of the sports she loved was unusual, particularly for a woman of her generation. It was that understanding of sports that initially kindled a romance between her and her late husband, Pete.
The four children she raised with Pete were her greatest accomplishments in life. Whether watching their performances on the stages and fields of Nether Providence and Strath Haven High School or supporting them in other outside school activities and endeavors, Nettie never missed an opportunity to support her kids and proudly tell anyone who was wondering, that she was their mom.Building a home full of warmth and caring, Nettie’s house was always a common meeting point for her children’s friends, most of whom will best remember ‘Mrs. Cellini’s homemade pizza’ as a Friday night tradition, and her own friends who always knew where to go to talk over a cup of coffee.
Survivors include children, Mary Grace Bush (Tom) of Boothwyn, Peter Cellini (Kari) of Lancaster, Cathy Jenkins of Glenolden, and Deena Wasson Cellini (Mark) of Media.;grandchildren Shane (Jenna), Brandon (Laura), Bill (Erica)Jenkins, Kelly Merritt (Brian), Nicholas and Taylor Cellini, and Regan Kilgore (Casey); great grandchildren Cash, Cole, Jonah, Lukas and Elias and Baby Kilgore due this fall. She is also survived by her sister Kay Fortini (Angelo) of Westlake, OH and her baby brother Joe (Judy) of Homosassa FL.
Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Service on Thursday June 13 at 11:00 AM at Carr Funeral Home 935 S. Providence Rd. (Route 320) Wallingford. Friends may call on Wednesday from 6 to 8 PM and Thursday from 10 to 11 AM at the funeral home. Interment Chester Rural Cemetery.
Next to family, Nettie’s great love was sports; some professional, some college and high school, but all local. An avid fan of Strath Haven Football, she was a stalwart at those games for the better part of three decades. At the college level, no one earned her love and frustration more than the Temple Men’s Basketball team; a team for which she and her daughter had season tickets for several years. Professionally, the Eagles and Phillies got most of her attention. Her understanding of the sports she loved was unusual, particularly for a woman of her generation. It was that understanding of sports that initially kindled a romance between her and her late husband, Pete.
The four children she raised with Pete were her greatest accomplishments in life. Whether watching their performances on the stages and fields of Nether Providence and Strath Haven High School or supporting them in other outside school activities and endeavors, Nettie never missed an opportunity to support her kids and proudly tell anyone who was wondering, that she was their mom.Building a home full of warmth and caring, Nettie’s house was always a common meeting point for her children’s friends, most of whom will best remember ‘Mrs. Cellini’s homemade pizza’ as a Friday night tradition, and her own friends who always knew where to go to talk over a cup of coffee.
Survivors include children, Mary Grace Bush (Tom) of Boothwyn, Peter Cellini (Kari) of Lancaster, Cathy Jenkins of Glenolden, and Deena Wasson Cellini (Mark) of Media.;grandchildren Shane (Jenna), Brandon (Laura), Bill (Erica)Jenkins, Kelly Merritt (Brian), Nicholas and Taylor Cellini, and Regan Kilgore (Casey); great grandchildren Cash, Cole, Jonah, Lukas and Elias and Baby Kilgore due this fall. She is also survived by her sister Kay Fortini (Angelo) of Westlake, OH and her baby brother Joe (Judy) of Homosassa FL.
Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Service on Thursday June 13 at 11:00 AM at Carr Funeral Home 935 S. Providence Rd. (Route 320) Wallingford. Friends may call on Wednesday from 6 to 8 PM and Thursday from 10 to 11 AM at the funeral home. Interment Chester Rural Cemetery.