Peter Celano

Throughout his life that spanned nearly a century, Peter Celano lived each day to the fullest. He filled his journey with hard work, plenty of fun, and unending love for the family he treasured. Peter was a creative thinker who wasn’t afraid to do things his own way or try something new. He was generous with his time and resources and always on the lookout for ways he could give to those around him. Peter was blessed to spend nearly 60 years with the love of his life with whom he witnessed his family tree blossom to include the children and grandchildren who will carry on his timeless legacy. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

The year 1918 was very much defined by the end of WWI, and because of the success of the United States and our allies we were recognized as a world leader for the first time. The 1920s ushered in a time of great prosperity filled with countless advancements that transformed the way we lived our daily lives. The year 1918 was a year to remember in the lives of a young couple from Highland Park, Michigan, for a much different reason as they were focused on their own excitement as they welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on the 20th of June, although his birth certificate names the 21st as the date of his birth. Peter was the fourth of five children and the youngest son born to his Sicilian immigrant parents, Joseph and Josephine (Vermiglio) Celano. He grew up in the Detroit area alongside his sister, Rosalia or Lee, his brother, Orazio known as Rod or Tony, his brother, Salvatore or Sam as he was often known, and his sister, Antoinette.

Peter’s formative years were anything but boring. He lived through the glory days of Detroit, growing up during the vibrant days of the Roaring Twenties. Peter witnessed firsthand the shift from horses to automobiles and prohibition give way to the passing of the 18th Amendment. As a boy growing up Peter recalled gathering in the streets to marvel at dirigibles and airplanes. He was a student at local schools through the eighth grade, but as the prosperity of the twenties gave way to the Great Depression of the thirties Peter left school to take on a job building furniture. No stranger to hard work, he also shoveled coal, delivered ice, and peddled handbills during his formative years.

Life was forever changed for Peter as a young boy of 12 when he first spotted the young woman with whom he would write a love story that would span almost 60 years. Her name was Joyce, and as a little guy with a big attitude it comes as no surprise that he was bold enough to decide right then and there that she was the one he would marry someday. Peter was right as he married his sweetheart at the beginning of World War II in a typical wedding ceremony of the day. Although his weight and heart murmur kept him from serving in the military, Peter contributed to the war effort by refining and perfecting manufacturing techniques for critical munitions.

All throughout his working days, Peter made a career in manufacturing. He was a hardworking man who rose from sweeper to plant manager at a series of shops before retiring, teaching himself tool design and engineering along the way.

After 20 years of marriage, Peter and Joyce were blessed to become parents to three children: Peter, Maria, and Patricia. As a family they looked forward to summer vacations spent in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where they split their time between Munising, the Copper Country, and other places of interest. Later in life Peter and Joyce welcomed seven grandchildren into the fold including Joseph, Jessica, Ryan, Rebecca, Frank, Tony, and Dante as well as extended family pets, Lucky, Storm, and Caesar.

In his free time, Peter enjoyed pursuing a variety of interests. He was a very accomplished woodworker who took special pride in his wooden mechanical toys that were often made from wood that he milled himself directly from the log. Nearly every toy that he made Peter freely gave away. He was also into machining, electronics, photography, winemaking, baking, and just about anything that involved putting things together. One example of Peter’s creativity coupled with his ingenuity was his patio as it is a giant, multicolored concrete jigsaw puzzle that is so distinctive that pilots used it as a visual navigation aid before the colors faded! He had a passion for music to the point where it would intrude on his neighbor’s serenity at times. In fact, Peter was listening to classical music and classic jazz almost constantly right up to the end of his life.

As his friends and family can attest, Peter Celano was all about being with those he loved. There was nothing he treasured more than when his family was gathered together for any reason great or small. Peter appreciated good food and drink, but it was when these things were shared with others that they were even better. Life will be forever changed without him here, but the lives of all who were blessed to feel his touch will be forever enriched by such an extraordinary man. Peter’s memory will always be cherished.

Peter Celano died on December 26, 2013. Peter was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce. Peter’s family includes his children, Peter J. (Cindy) Celano, Maria (Tim) Celano, and Patti (Louis) Ventura; grandchildren, Joe, Frank, Jessica, Ryan, Tony, Rebecca, and Dante. Visit with Peter’s family and friends on Friday 5-9 p.m. at the Neely-Turowski Life Story Funeral Home 30200 Five Mile (West of Middlebelt). Funeral Service Saturday 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. You may share a memory, upload a picture and sign the guest book at www.TurowskiLifeStory.com before arriving at the funeral home.