Celeste Blattler, 86, of Lewiston, died on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at Clarkston Cascadia.
She was born to Rose (Lorbetske) Stefonek and Peter Stefonek on July 24, 1937, in Rhinelander, Wis. Her brother Randy, sister Noreen, and brother Vern joined the family later.
She had fond memories of school, having perfect attendance in school until a bout of scarlet fever caused her to miss two weeks of school in her senior year. In 1955, she graduated from Three Lakes High School in Three Lakes, Wis.
On July 7, 1956, Celeste met Gerald Blattler on a blind date. She and Jerry were engaged on Feb. 14, 1957, and married on Aug. 24, 1957. Son Brad was born in 1958, and son Glen in 1960.
Jerry had a love for gardening. However, the northern Wisconsin climate wasn’t conducive to long growing seasons. Jer worked at the paper mill in Rhinelander then, and he and Cel decided to move west to Lewiston, where a new paper mill was opening. They moved there in June 1963, and Idaho quickly became their home. Daughter Laura (1965) and son Stuart (1967) were born in Idaho. Because the family members were born in either Wisconsin — the land of cheese — or Idaho with its famous potatoes, the family was a bunch of “cheesy taters.”
Celeste cared for infant Laura during a frightening illness, and in doing so, she began developing her eventual nursing career. In 1971, she graduated from Lewis-Clark State College in the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program. After graduation, she began work at the then St. Joseph’s Hospital and worked there until retirement in 1997. She enjoyed training newly graduated nurses on how nursing was “really” done.
She loved being retired and so enjoyed watching episodes of General Hospital and every Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel.
Jerry and Celeste’s grandson Christopher was born in 1985. They frequently cared for him when he was a youngster, taking him to their land near Southwick for his version of camping. She relished the title of “Grandma.”
Memories to share:
Brad and his spouse Debra grew closer to Mom while she lived with them.
In 2006, Mom traveled to Europe with Glen and Laura. They had dinner in a Paris restaurant with friends who spoke fluent French. Mom’s steak was undercooked, and one friend sent it back to the kitchen, telling the waitstaff that “Madame’s” steak needed more cooking. She beamed at being called Madame. Over the years, Mom recalled this story, slipping in arrondissement — the French word for district — to the story because it sounded “so French.”
Mom taught Laura how to bake. At age 9, Laura participated in 4-H Cooking. Under Mom’s tutelage, Laura worked on making coffeecake all summer to perfect the recipe before the Nez Perce County Fair. Laura entered her coffeecake in the fair and won a grand champion ribbon. Mom’s insistence for Laura to use half white flour and half whole wheat paid off.
In 2016, Stuart lived with Mom, and they enjoyed the July Fourth celebration by setting off fireworks in the driveway. He remembers how close he felt to her then.
Chris’s grandparents weren’t too keen on any “new technology.” Then in 2007, Grandma and Papa bought a DVD player, which was an upgrade from their VHS player. Because they didn’t have any DVDs to play, Papa asked Chris who was living with them and working at Game Crazy to bring a DVD home so they could try out their “new machine.” Chris told them when they were finished with the DVD, they should leave it on the counter to signal it was ready to be returned. Late one night, Chris got home and saw the DVD was on the counter with a note from Grandma on it: “Chris, I don’t know if this is rewound. I hope you don’t get into trouble.” They didn’t quite understand that DVDs do not have to be rewound like VHS tapes.
Celeste and her sister Noreen sent each other greeting cards to celebrate holidays. In 1989, Celeste mailed a Valentine’s Day card with chocolates pictured on it to Noreen who realized Celeste had forgotten to sign it. In 1990, Noreen sent it back, asking for her signature. In 1991, Celeste signed it for the 1989 entry as well as a new entry and mailed it back to Noreen. In the years since, they kept up the tradition of sending the chocolate card to each other. Noreen now has the card for keeps.
Years ago, Celeste and Jerry went to dinner with friends Prudy and Bill. On the way back from the restaurant, they stopped at Lewiston’s Kiwanis Park playground and each bounced on spring-mounted horses, having a hysterical time.
Celeste/Mom/Grandma, we will miss you and think of you often.
Celeste was preceded in death by her father Peter, mother Rose, husband Jer, brother Vern, in-laws Norman and Evelyn, and brother-in-law Gene. Her “Idaho mom” Esther Shaw died in 2019, and her kind and doting neighbor Sharon Day died on Sept. 12, 2023.
Celeste is survived by sons Brad and spouse Debra of Lewiston, Glen of Seattle, and Stuart of Spokane; daughter Laura Pallaske and spouse Darrel of Spokane; grandson Chris Wilkins and his love Megan of Spokane; brother Randy Stefonek of Rhinelander, Wis.; sister Noreen Catherson and spouse Ron of Las Cruces, N.M.; and brother-in-law John “Jack” and spouse Karen Blattler of Arizona.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at All Saints Catholic Church at 3330 14th St., Lewiston. Please bring your memories of Celeste to share. Mountain View Funeral Home of Lewiston is in charge of arrangements.
