Clorene Celestin

Clorene Celestin 92, of Lawrenceville, GA passed on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Celebration of Life Services will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025 11:00 AM at St. Lawrence Catholic Church 319 Grayson Hwy. Lawrenceville, Ga 30046. Visitation will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025 from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM with family hours from 5-8pm at our Gwinnett Chapel 914 Scenic Highway Lawrenceville Ga. 30045. Interment will be held at East Shadow Memorial Garden 87 Scenic Highway Lawrenceville Ga. 30046. Please express your condolences here on our website. Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, Avondale-Scottdale Chapel. 351 N. Clarendon Ave. Scottdale, GA 30079. (404)294-5500. Clorène Celestin was born in Bonbon, a city near Jérémie, Haiti, on June 18, 1932. She was the daughter of Fleuricile André and Destina Celestin, and the middle child among her six siblings: Celene, Excellent, Dieudonné, Melite, and Silima. At the age of eight, she was entrusted to the prominent Cavé family in Jérémie to attend school. However, her natural leadership and dependable nature quickly stood out, leading the family to entrust her with managing their household and their store. While this meant her schooling was put aside, Clorène cherished the responsibility and maintained fond memories of her time with the Cavé family. These early experiences deeply influenced how she would later raise her own children and support others in her life. At 20, Clorène returned to Bonbon, where she met Beauté Dominique. Their relationship brought her first child, Jean Alix, born on September 4, 1954, during the devastation of Hurricane Hazel. Following the hurricane’s destruction, she moved to Port-au-Prince in August 1955, prioritizing her son’s education and the pursuit of a better life. By the late-1960s, Clorène had settled on Rue de la Réunion. During this time, she developed a relationship with Rony Champagne, and on May 16th, 1970, her daughter Françoise was born. Being one of the first in her family to relocate to Port-au-Prince, Clorène’s home became a sanctuary for her relatives arriving from Jérémie. Her house was a hub of support and warmth, where she welcomed family and friends with open arms and delicious meals. She was proud of her family and took great joy in contributing to the education and upbringing of her nieces and nephews, many of whom went on to become doctors, pastors, and other professionals. Clorène’s culinary talents were legendary. People traveled from near and far to enjoy her cooking, each with a favorite dish they hoped she would prepare. She delighted in making special birthday meals and took immense pride in catering to the preferences of those she loved. Her food was an expression of her generosity and care. Not a single birthday of hers or her loved ones’ went uncelebrated. The celebration ritual would start with going to church, a trip to a photo studio for pictures, then cake and visits from Clorene’s friends around the block. Clorène had a deep faith in God, which shaped her life and the lives of those around her. She loved to sing, attend prayer meetings, and faithfully attended mass. Her kindness and warmth allowed her to maintain long-lasting friendships with her neighbors for years to come. Her openness left an unforgettable mark on everyone she encountered and thus, she never met a stranger. In 1995, at the age of 63, Clorène moved to New York to live with her newly married daughter Françoise. Her only condition was that she be taken to church every Sunday, as she had heard that people in New York don’t go to church. For nearly three decades, she lived in New York and Georgia, dedicating herself to her family. She cared for her grandchildren and instilled in them values of discipline, faith, and love. Clorène’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched. She often said she had four children—Alix, Guilda, Maxime, and Françoise—and five grandchildren—Samuella, Naomie, Arnelle, Cedric, and Jabir and one great grandchild Bélina. Her selflessness, love for her family, culinary gifts, and unwavering faith have left a lasting impression on the Celestin, Dominique, Champagne, Jeudy, Vilfort, Germain, Segur, Louimaire, Hée, and countless other families. Clorène Celestin, lovingly known as Ada, Mommie Clo, Matante or Tatat, will be remembered for her laughter, discipline, and boundless generosity. May she rest in peace. We love you, Ada.

Tributes

Clorene Celestin

January 18, 1932 - January 2, 2025