Pierina "Peppi" Celli

Pierina "Peppi" Celli 87, of Kingston, NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 8,2025. Born in Pettoranello del Molise, Italy, she immigrated to the US in 1947 and lived in Little Rocky Hill in a home her father built. She married in 1962 and settled in Kingston, where she raised her 4 daughters. She was very active in her children's lives coaching cheerleading and basketball, working in the school and baking her apple pies for fundraisers. She loved to bake, especially her "Rickey" cookies for special family occasions. She enjoyed gardening, her grandchildren, and dogs. The Giants and Yankees were her favorite teams. She worked many years in her sister's restaurant, Stallion Pizzeria. She retired at 79 years old while serving at Main Street Cafe where she enjoyed her customers and built lasting friendships.
Predeceased by her parents, Nicola and Filomena (Carnevale) Pinelli; sisters, Ernestina DiMeglio and Antonietta Armenti; son-in-law, Bill Clark; and her former spouse, Marcello Celli.
She is survived by her four daughters and spouses, Anna Clark, Terri and Vince Raspatello, Marisa and Ben Clayton and Tina and Victor Riga; 7 grandchildren, Tim Clark, Jessica Martel (Tim), Anthony Raspatello, Zach and Alyssa Clayton and Gianni and Dominic Riga; 2 great grandchildren, Luca and Gianna Martel, several nieces and nephews, extended family and close friends.
Visitation will be held from 2-6 pm on Sunday, April 13, 2025 and Monday April 14, 2025 at 9am at Mather –Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ 08542. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Monday, April 14, 2025 at St. Paul's Church, 216 Nassau St. Princeton, NJ 08542. Entombment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at Stjude.org