Obituary of Mary Celmer

Mary Celmer July 16, 1917 – January 4, 2015 Mary Celmer former resident of Wallington, NJ, passed away on January 4, 2015, at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, Falls Church, VA, at the age of 97. Mrs. Celmer was the first of five children born and raised in Bayonne, NJ to Andrew and Sophie Szymczak of Poland. Mary married Joseph J. Celmer when he returned as a decorated WWII Army veteran in November of 1945 and moved to Passaic, NJ before settling in the town of Wallington where she lived for more than 50 years. During her life in Wallington, Mary was a devoted wife and mother and became an active member of the Democratic Club and the Wallington Senior Citizens Club during the 1970’s through 2002. She held several offices the latter of which was Chaplin of the Senior Citizens organization. Mrs. Celmer follows her beloved husband Joseph J. Celmer and her son Joseph H. Celmer in death as well as her brothers William, Henry and Edward Szymczak and her sister Genevieve Kessler. Mary Celmer is survived by her daughter Mary Margaret (Celmer) Roman and her husband Alan of Springfield, VA, her daughter-in-law Laura Celmer of Palatine, IL, grandchildren Lynnean Celmer, Joseph R. Celmer, Jennifer L. (Roman) Rowley (Phillip) and Alyssa M. Roman and her great-grandson Andrew Joseph Rowley. Funeral services are private. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads Foundation, Alice Story Biache Fund, 3440 South Jefferson Street, Falls Church, VA 22041. Mary Celmer aspired to become a nurse. The Alice Story Biache Fund supports Goodwin House employees pursuing nursing education.