Celeste Rose Phillips

I think of Celeste often--just the other day, in fact. She glows in my mind. She was wonderful.

I will never forget Celeste. When I worked in the St. Anna Hospital in Geldrop (the Netherlands) in 2006 I had the pleasure to work with her. She inspired my staff, the hospital and me very much. She and Roger stayed in a hotel near my house and we had a very nice time together with my family and her grand daughter who was of the same age as my daughter. I was shocked to see that she has passed away. She surely made a difference in this world for thousands of families. Thank you for that...

I will always remember how much she loved her career, her family and Roger. So glad I got to spend some time with an amazing person. God Bless!!

So, I remember Celeste laughing and telling us nursing students at Cabrillo (around 1977) that her tombstone would be engraved with "There was no other alternative"! Her message to us was, always consider your options. She is unforgettable and made nursing school bearable. My deepest condolences to her loving family. Cabrillo College ADN Class of 1978

Celeste was extremely kind to me in my twenties, when I was struggling to find out what to do after college graduation. She gave me work, emotional support, helpful advice, and hope.I have thought of her often over the years and think of her frequently still. I will be grateful to her for the rest of my life.

I did not have the opportunity to meet Celeste, but I am extremely grateful for her work and dedication Her dedication for the mothers and babies has assisted the medical community in moving toward family centered care of the newborn. She will be always legacy to those of us who care for this specific population.

Although I only worked with Celeste by phone, I will never forget the warmth that her voice conveyed. She was so insightful and and a natural mentor. May her memory be a blessing to everyone whose life was touched by her.

Celeste helped change the world for moms, babies, families and their experiences related to hospital births. She was a trailblazer who never let us forget that a newborn belongs in the arms of mom. She inspired me to push for hospital design and operations that support these tenets, and I'm still doing it today with full credit to her early efforts. My condolences to her family and friends.

Moms and babies all over the world have lost an amazing woman and advocate, who brought out the true nurse in the tens of thousands of nurses she touched all over the world, completely transforming the hospital birth process. The one quote by which I will always remember her is "What would the baby want?"--something I hope we all continue to ask every day. We all owe her so much; what an incredible beacon of light she provided in maternal infant care!