Celestina Evangelista Sumagaysay

To simply meet Celeste was to feel her warmth and kindness. If you were blessed to have known and be loved by her, you also knew she was generous in spirit and in deed, plus she was genuine, thoughtful, well-meaning and funny. It is for these reasons and so many more that she and her lovely, gentle smile will be sorely missed.

Celestina Evangelista Sumagaysay died Monday, May 22, 2023 at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo. She had just turned 75 on April 6. A native of Binan, Laguna, Philippines, she and her family had lived in Vallejo since May 1984.

Celeste, also known as Lesty, was a retired accountant who worked at Health and Human Services of Marin County for more than 20 years, all while juggling other side hustles simultaneously. Before that, she was chief accountant at Corona Motor Center, a Toyota dealership in the Philippines. That was where she met Victor, who became her husband (and dance partner, fellow partier, fellow Warriors fan and political sparring partner) of 49 years. Their love story -- full of ups and downs but complete with a romantic and exciting elopement arranged by their co-workers -- would span a half century and will forever be part of family lore.

A hard worker and a striver who valued educational excellence, some of Celeste's happiest and proudest moments were when she celebrated the achievements of her family, all of whom survive her: Husband Victor Sumagaysay; daughters Levi (Vernon Farley), Vicel (Kevin Meyer), Glicel (Miguel O'Hara) and Joan; and grandchildren Devon Baclay, Eva Farley, Salem Meyer, Kylle Meyer, Clark Meyer and Nolan O'Hara. She is also survived by sister Lily (Adel) Jamir; brothers Perfecto (Sheridan) and Patricio (Prescy) Evangelista and their families; and the Flores, Ponce and Gan families. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Gaudioso and Gliceria Evangelista; parents-in-law Juan and Celia Sumagaysay; nephews Alvin and Arnold Jamir; grandniece April Duong; and son-in-law Luke Baclay.