Obituaries

Patricia Elaine Lester of Oswego passed away Friday, December 6th surrounded by her loving family.

She was married to the love of her life, Bruce G. Lester for 65 years.

Born April 5th 1937, she was the daughter of Tina and Benedict Celso.

She graduated from high school in Newark, NY and received her nursing degree from Nazareth College.  After graduation she worked as a public health nurse. In 1961 she began her most cherished role as mother. She and Bruce raised five daughters in Oswego, NY:  Mary (Edward) Gosek, Joan (Sean) Kesselring, Donna (Thomas) Handley, Sara (Stephen) Davis and Susan (Andrew) DiBlasi.

They are blessed with 16 grandchildren, Jeremy (Caitlin) Gosek, Sarah (Todd) Bates, Alexandra (Kenneth) Cisson, Bruce Kesselring, Emma Kesselring, Zachary (Emily) Handley, Senna Handley, Samantha (Scott) Misar, Benjamin (Johnna) Davis, Caleb Davis, Noah Davis, Ella Davis, Anthony DiBlasi, Joseph DiBlasi, Luke DiBlasi and Alaina DiBlasi. They are further blessed with six great grandchildren Kaelyn, Dax, Charlotte, Quinn, Sawyer and Lyla.

In 1981 Pat graduated from SUNY Oswego with a Masters Degree/Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology.  She retired from the Hannibal Central School District in 1994 where she served as the School Psychologist. In that role she compassionately cared for many children in the community. She was a member of the Oswego Children’s Board and the Oswego Hospital Board of Directors.

Pat was incredibly creative and artistic. In her retirement she wrote, directed and danced in multiple plays in The Villages, FL. She was a skilled weaver, knitter and an award-winning quilter. She loved gardening and spent hours in her yard making it beautiful.

Alongside her daughter Mary, she created the Comfort Quillow program for Peaceful Remedies in Oswego. She personally made over 60 quilts for individuals suffering from any life altering Illness.

Pat is survived by her brother John Celso, her brother-in-law Gary Lester and sisters-in-law Judy (Robert) Cook, Alice (Manny) Lester, Kathy Celso and Dotti Celso. She is predeceased by her daughter Mary Gosek, her grandson Luke DiBlasi, her parents and her siblings Shirley, Joseph and Benedict.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to Dr. Thomas Hanna.

Her integrity, faith and love will be missed by all.

Contributions in her memory can be made to Peaceful Remedies or the SUNY Oswego Men’s Ice Hockey Team ℅ The Blue Line Club.

Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday, December 12th from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Dain Cullinan Funeral Home,112 E 2nd St.  Funeral services will be on Friday, December 13th at 10 a.m. St Joseph’s Church, 240 W 1st Street.