Celeste Fredericksen

As family and friends will certainly agree, Celeste Fredericksen truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a beautiful woman, inside and out, and she made the most of every moment she was given. Nothing brought Celeste more joy than spending time with her loved ones. Her unshakeable faith and insatiable zest for life, left a lasting impact on all those around her. Dearly loved, Celeste will be forever missed.

In the United States, the early 1930s were difficult years for many across the country. The Great Depression was in full swing, and families had no choice but to pull together and work hard to make ends meet. During this dark time, however, there was a ray of light on the horizon for Giuseppe and Annina Mastropieri. The couple had moved from Italy and settled down in Garfield Heights, Ohio, a community of mainly Italian and Polish immigrants near Cleveland. Now, they awaited the arrival of their second child with breathless anticipation. On September 25, 1933, they welcomed their daughter, Celeste, into the world.

Growing up, Celeste was a typical girl of her generation in many ways. She was raised in the family home in Garfield Heights alongside her older brother, Daniel, and younger brother, Lino. From an early age, Celeste understood the importance of family. She had happy memories of enjoying a movie and popcorn with Lino for just 10 cents. Throughout her childhood, much of Celeste’s life revolved around her church and her faith. As a young girl, Celeste learned how to cook from her mother, and food quickly became her favorite way to show her love. The Mastropieri family made everything they could at home, even canning their own vegetables and making their own wine.

New and exciting changes were in store for Celeste as she met a young man who would soon become the love of her life. His name was Gerald Fredericksen, and he was from Buffalo, New York. The two first met at US Steel, Cleveland, OH, where Celeste worked in the accounting office. There was an instant connection between them, and a romance soon blossomed. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Celeste and Jerry were married in Garfield Heights on May 27, 1961.

Of all the things Celeste loved in life, she treasured her family above all else. She and Jerry were overjoyed to become parents to their three sons, Gerald, Manuel, and Karl. Celeste thrived in her role as a mother, and while the boys were young, she dedicated herself to caring for her family as a homemaker. She considered dinner to be important family time that began with prayer. Cooking for three growing boys was no easy task, but Celeste always made plenty of food. The Fredericksens often took trips to visit family in Buffalo and Ohio. After moving around for some time, they eventually decided to settle in Kalamazoo in 1978. Later in life, Celeste was thrilled to become a grandmother. She doted on her 8 grandchildren whenever she could, and they affectionately called her “Nonna,” honoring her Italian heritage. Celeste was very blessed to watch her family grow to include so many loved ones, and throughout her life, she kept in touch with those back in Italy.

Once her boys were older, Celeste went to work in the office for Sassman Eye & Associates. Church was always a special place, and she leaned on her faith in good times and bad. Celeste could often be found in the kitchen. She was famous for her spaghetti and pasta with homemade sauce, made with love just like her mother had taught her. In their golden years, Celeste and Jerry discovered a love for travelling. They visited Italy, Brazil, Spain, and Hungary, and in 2000, the family enjoyed a memorable trip to the small town of Orsara Di Puglia in Italy, where the Mastropieri family was originally from. Celeste was fiercely proud of her Italian roots. She was deeply sentimental, and she kept a calendar all throughout her life, documenting her daily events and memorable moments.

Never one to sit still for long, Celeste pursued many hobbies to stay busy in her free time. She enjoyed quilting and making dolls, and she had a talent for making everything she touched more beautiful. Celeste loved attending live plays and the opera. Her favorite car was a ‘58 Pontiac Catalina that she brought brand new. One of Celeste’s most prized possessions was her camera, which she brought with her everywhere. She loved to take pictures and capture every moment. Like everyone else in her family, Celeste drank her coffee strong, with just a splash of milk. Fall was her favorite time of the year, and she would collect bright leaves from the gum trees in her front yard and press them in books so that she could look at them year-round. Celeste loved watching the deer and taking in the beauty of nature. She was never afraid to speak her mind or stand up for her loved ones, and she faced every challenge head-on.

With a journey that spanned times of plenty and want, times of war and peace, Celeste Fredericksen always made sure to hold her beloved friends and family members close. She was a shining example of kindness and selflessness, and she radiated genuine love that drew others to her. A dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, Celeste was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others. Her spirit could never be broken. Though she will be deeply missed, Celeste leaves behind a priceless legacy that her loved ones will be proud to carry on in her footsteps.

Celeste Mastropieri Fredericksen died on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Members of her family include her husband, Gerald Sr; 3 children, Gerald Jr (Michelle), Brayden, San Marcos CA. Manuel (Emily), Elsie, Henry, and Sadie, Kalamazoo, MI, and Karl (Tiffany), Olivia, Ian, Xander, and Brody, Holland, MI. Celeste is preceded in death by her parents Giuseppe and Annina and her brothers, Daniel and Lino.

Mass will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, March 19 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A reception where food, drinks and stories will be shared at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 immediately following the Mass. Burial will be at All Saints Cemetery in Northfield, OH. Celebrate Celeste’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.