Posted October 6, 2025

Sister Celeste Marie Kambic died in Camilla Hall on September 25, 2025, just shy of her 93rd birthday. Born Margaret Mary Kambic on October 7, 1932 in Steelton, Pennsylvania to her parents, Joseph J. and Catherine E. (Restak) Kambic, she was raised in a family of five children in Steelton, Pennsylvania, within their home parish, St. Peter in Steelton.

Margaret Mary attended St. Peter Elementary School (1938-1946) and Harrisburg Catholic High (1946-1950), later known as Bishop McDevitt High School (1957). Sister went on to earn a B.A. degree from Immaculata College and an M.A. from Millersville State College.

Margaret entered our Community on September 8, 1950. On March 26, 1951, Margaret received her holy habit and her religious name Sister Celeste Marie. Sister Celeste pronounced her First Vows on April 5, 1953. Shortly after First Profession, Sister began her ministry of service.

In April 1953 through December 1959, Sister Celeste taught children in grades 6, 7, and 8 in St. Patrick Parish in York, St. Agnes in West Chester, St. Rose of Lima in Eddystone, St. Patrick in Norristown, and St. Margaret in Reading.

At the turn of 1960, Sister received a transfer to Collegio Villa Maria in Santiago, Chile, initially to teach seventh grade students, and shortly after transitioning to teach South American high school level girls, continuing there from January 1961 through the school year ending in 1965. After this, returning to North America, Sister served at Archbishop Prendergast High School for one year.

From August 1966 through June 1971, Sister Celeste returned to Santiago, Chile, and once again became a high school teacher at Villa Maria in Santiago, then a superior at Las Condes (the IHM Novitiate) for a year, followed by a return trip to Villa Maria Santiago for three years. In the fall of 1971 through until the end of the school year in 1974, Sister taught high school girls at Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill. After a quick turnaround of sorts, Sister Celeste worked in the Spanish Apostolate of Chester County for one year (1974-75), followed by one

year at Lourdes Regional High School in Shamokin (1975-76).
Following this, for almost a decade, Sister Celeste Marie served in the Spanish Apostolate Program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (1976-1984). When Sister left the Diocesan Office, she returned to her ministry of teaching, moving to York Catholic High School (1984-1988), once again returning to serve in South America from August 1988 through 1994. This time she performed in varying capacities, including teacher, superior and pastoral minister, serving tirelessly in IHM missions in LaPlanicie, Peru; La Ligua, Chile; Miraflores, Peru; Callao, Peru; and lastly Santiago, Chile.

Returning to North America in August 1994, Sister Celeste’s fidelity “to being everywhere that God wanted her to be” continued joyfully and faithfully until her final breath. For the next twenty-plus years, Sister served graciously at various places and ministries. Sister taught at the IHM Literacy and G.E.D. Center, assisted in the library at Bishop McDevitt High School, aided as a staff member at Camilla Hall and Immaculata College, completing her ministry as a Pastoral Care Giver at Philadelphia Protestant Home for 14 years.

In fall, 2015, Sister Celeste Marie Kambic came as a resident to Camilla Hall with heart and hands full of loving service for a new apostolate as a member of the Prayer and Service Community. Sister had this ministry ‘down pat’ before she even arrived since no matter where Sister Celeste served, her manner was always peaceful, pleasant, and prayerful, leaving a part of her holy presence with all those to whom and with whom she ministered.

In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Celeste is survived by her sister, Rosemary Tecson, her brother-in-law, Peter J. Graybash and her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sister was predeceased by her parents Joseph John Kambic, Catherine Elizabeth (Restak) Kambic; her brother, Joseph S. Kambic (Barbara); her sister, Dorothy A. Graybash and her brother-in-law, Arturo S. Tecson.

Reverend John Burger, C.S.C. celebrated Sister Celeste Marie’s Funeral Mass on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.

In Sister Celeste Marie’s memory, a memorial donation may be sent to:

Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355