Celeste Maria Hebert

Celeste Maria D'Alleva Hebert, born September 11, 1943, died on Friday, August 23,
2024 after a courageous battle over many years with cancer.
She was the daughter of Giovanna Santo and Camillo D'Alleva (both deceased) in Astoria, New York.
After graduation from Marymount Manhattan College, New York City, with a bachelor's
degree in history in 1965, she continued her education at Georgetown University, where
she earned a master's degree in U.S. History in 1967.
In those first days of graduate school she met fellow graduate student John R. Hebert who
was pursuing a master's and Ph.D in Latin American history. They fell in love, were engaged in September
1967, and on June 15, 1968, married in New York City, 56 years ago. They began their
marriage in Arlington, Virginia, and lived for 47 years in Burke, Virginia. They had four
children – Celeste Elizabeth, John Raymond, Charles Edward, and Michelle Anne.
Celeste Elizabeth married John Zehr (now deceased), and they have three children –
John, Elizabeth, and Catherine. John R. married Karin Lofgren, and they have three
children – Jack, Madeleine, and Benjamin; Charles Edward married Amy Tempel (now
deceased), and they have two children – Abigail and Lauren, and Michelle Anne
married Andrew Giffen, and they have three children – James, Natalie, and Emily.
Celeste Maria taught public school in Brooklyn (1967) and then worked in schools in
Fairfax, Virginia. Through the years, she befriended a wide range of colleagues and
supported her students with compassion and love. Celeste was a generous, loving,
caring wife, mom, grandmother, and friend, even as she battled aggressive cancer.
Over 56 years of a loving marriage, Celese and John were a strong team sharing and
facing all of life's happiness and challenges together, right to the end, with kindness and
humor. She was devoted to her family and always had time to answer every call, send
texts to check in, celebrate every success big and small, listen to and help figure out
any problem, and get excited about every adventure and experience. She shared so
many stories of growing up in Astoria and Mastic, giving her children and grandchildren
a rich family history that will never be forgotten. Celeste was a life-long Yankees' fan
and passed that on to her children and grandchildren. In any situation, Celeste always
looked for the positive and always turned to her deep faith for support. She
accomplished so much in her life, but her greatest joy was being married to John, being
a mom and being a grandmother to her 11 perfect (her words!!!) grandchildren. Celeste-
Mom-Grandma-Mina will be dearly missed. May the angels in heaven let Celeste's
wonderful presence continue to enrich all of us. God rest her soul.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to ECHO (Ecumenical
Community Helping Others).