Celeste Veronica Salzman, 71, passed on to heaven Sunday morning, September 30 ^th after a brave 8- month battle following a stroke. Born September 4 ^th , 1947 in Cleveland, OH to Hugo and Angela Smith, she grew up in Brecksville and then to California. There, she met her husband Bernard and moved back to Ohio to find property and build their dream home and lives together. Coming from a family of builders, she helped build their home from framing to finish.

Celeste worked for Personnel Plus for 30 years as a community-based job coach. There are many people who are productive and gainfully employed due to her hard-working success. In 2000 she received awards on the national and state level from the Association for People Supporting Employment (APSE) honoring her success and dedication.

Aside from her work, she was everybody's mom, always employing her incredible culinary skills to feed her family and friends. She even had several catering jobs because she loved to cook for large groups of people. She was also past president of the ARC for many years. Her hobbies also included walks in the country, visiting her children, bird watching, organic gardening, star gazing, and especially avid reading.

Celeste is survived by her loving husband Bernard of nearly 40 years, daughters Ruth Tashlein (Dan) of Sellersville, PA, Erika Storms (David Fay) of Athens, Ariel Salzman (Brendan Robinson) of Portland, OR, Brothers Kirk Smith of Hawaii, Rex Smith of Millfield, OH, Brother-in-law Orin Salzman of Kimberling City, Mo, Grand children Erik Henderson, Kirstan Littleton, Brill Salzman-Robinson, great grandchildren Aniyah and Liam Burchfield Nephews Levi Smith and Brett Harrison, Nieces Naomi Brown and Shannon.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her son Jonathan Salzman

She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and sister. She will be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be held Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens.  Friends may call Friday 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home.  Contributions in her honor can be sent to either Personnel Plus or Passion Works. Her wishes were to be cremated and her ashes spread in the Pacific Ocean.  Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register book at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.