Celeste M. Carreiro

Celeste M. Carreiro

Loving mother and grandmother

TYNGSBOROUGH – Celeste Mary Carreiro, age 80, a resident of Tyngsborough and formerly of Billerica, died peacefully on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Palm Manor in Chelmsford, with her entire family by her side.   

Celeste was born in the Azores, Portugal on April 16, 1937 and was the daughter of the late Manuel and Mary (Mederios) Carreiro.  She moved to Somerville, MA with her family when she was 12 years old.  She was a graduate of Cambridge Rindge High and Latin School. She spent many years working as an executive secretary at Raytheon.  She was also a waitress, in addition to a cashier at Wal-Mart. 

Celeste was a proud and devoted homemaker. She was a loyal Catholic and was full of faith. Her Portuguese heritage made her into an amazing cook. She prioritized feeding her loved ones and guests and was always the last person to sit down at the dinner table. She also had a deep love and appreciation for animals, especially her cat Mikey and her son’s dogs Chewy and Little Bill. 

Celeste loved knitting and crocheting.  In the years prior to her medical struggles, she would spend the year knitting and crocheting hats, mittens and blankets that she would donate to the Lowell General Hospital maternity ward for newborn babies.

Celeste had unconditional love for her children and grandchildren.  She would often hold up the line at the grocery store so she could show off the pictures in her wallet of her family to the cashier.  She never failed to express how proud she was of her family.  To her, family was everything and she cherished spending time with them.  Her two grandchildren called her “Vovo” which means grandmother in Portuguese.

Most importantly, Celeste was a fighter and a survivor.  She courageously battled over a decade with ongoing medical issues.  She was a five-time cancer survivor and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure in her last years.  Despite a tremendous amount of pain, dozens of admissions to the hospital and tedious medical procedures; Celeste never complained of the physical, mental and emotional turmoil she endured.  She truly defined strength and resilience.

In her final days, Celeste was blessed to be surrounded by her entire family; the people that meant so much to her. Celeste’s loving, selfless, stubborn, spunky, positive, brave, loyal, generous and beautiful soul will be deeply missed by her family and loved ones.  She will never be forgotten and her legacy lives through her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by two sons and two daughters in law, Gregory R. Stanbury and his wife Vena Stanbury of FL and Glen A. Stanbury and his wife Laura Luce of Tyngsborough; a daughter, Maria L. Stanbury of Tyngsborough; two grandchildren, Chantal L. Newkirk of Gardner and Dillon R. Landino of Somerville; a sister in law, Violet Carreiro of Somerville; the father of her children, Arthur Stanbury of Tyngsborough (formally of Billerica); and many dear friends. She was predeceased by her brother Joseph Carreiro.

CARREIRO – Celeste M. Carreiro.  In accordance with her wishes, services were held privately.  Burial took place in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge.  In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701, the American Heart Association 300 5th Ave, Waltham, MA 02451 or the Lowell Humane Society 951 Broadway St, Lowell, MA 01854.  Arrangements by the TYNGSBOROUGH FUNERAL HOME 4 Cassaway Dr., Tyngsborough.  For online condolences, please visit www.tyngsboroughfuneralhome.com.  Funeral Directors Roland W. Martin and Daniel R. Martin 

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