4800 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018
SCREMIN, CECELIA THERESA “Celia”
Cecelia Theresa “Celia” Scremin, a longtime resident of Chandler, celebrated her 99th birthday with her family on November 7th, before passing on November 22, 2012. Cecelia was born in Benld, IL. She met her husband, Attilio ‘Al’ Scremin in Bloomington, IL, and were married September 6th, 1937 in Lincoln, IL. They packed up and moved to Miami, FL where they owned and operated an ocean front restaurant. As Mom always said, “those were fun years serving up their fantastic chili and beer!” They had their first child, Ann, in Florida before moving to Arizona in 1940. Their other 4 daughters births followed in Arizona. They purchased real estate in Chandler in 1950 and began 49 years of owning and operating gas station franchises including Phillip 66, Enco, Mobil, and Exxon, on that real estate, as well as purchasing apartments they named in memorial of their daughter, Linda. They also owned and operated Jet Village Rentals where many ‘snowbirds’ enjoyed the lovely winters in Arizona. Cel and Al also established the first U-Haul Dealership and the first automatic/self-service car wash in Chandler. Cel and Al were very active members of St. Mary’s Church in the early years of residence in Chandler. Cel was a member of the Catholic Daughter’s of America. Cel and Al were lifelong partners in business as well as celebrating 65 years of marriage before Al passed in 2003. Cel and Al were examples to their family of what could be accomplished with a strong work ethic. For most of their lives together, they worked 7 days a week.
They leave behind daughters, Elizabeth ‘Ann’ Murray (Don), Patricia Barr (Richard), and Mary Oertle (Kent); nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, and her loving sister, Sandi Boyer, and many nieces and nephews. Cel was preceded in death by daughters, Linda and Terri. A Rosary and Visitation will be held Friday, November 30th at 9:00 a.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle, 2312 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix. Private interment at Valley of the Sun Memorial Park in Chandler, Arizona on Monday, December 3rd.
Dear Mary and Kent, Chelsea and Jenna; Pat and family and all Cel’s family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time of sorrow. You have been an example of what we are called to do, in caring for your dear mother; Mary, Pat and Ann. May the love and devotion you showed her, return back to you. We will always remember her hospitality, her amazing cooking and her caramel popcorn. 🙂
As her soul is with Jesus, may we continue to be reminded to keep our eyes on Jesus, to persevere in our journey, until we all meet again one day in heaven.
Love, John, Rhonda and family
May God continue to cover you and your family, Mary with His tender love and mercy
Pat & Richard: Thanks for all the daily trips to check on mom (and dad). We gave them all we had!
And thanks to Elizabeth, Joyce, Nathalie, Kathy, Anna, Anna Banana, Ahi, and Caroline, for the 24/7 care all these years. You guys were the greatest caregiving team there ever was!
And Aunt Sandy, you were mom’s adored baby sister, and devoted sister to her, as well.
We hope mom has found dad, Linda and Terri, and her mom and dad, brothers and sisters, and her Uncle Jimmy, on the other side of the veil! She’s probably baking up some Date Nut Bread and Caramel Popcorn!
May all on this earth come to understand the devastational condition of dementia/alzheimer’s, for without our memories, we have nothing.
My prayers and thoughts are with you during this difficult time .There aren’t enough words to express the sorrow I feel for your family losing a close loved one so dear to your heart. Celia had a long well-lived life full of so many great accomplishments. Thank you for sharing her story. It truly is a remarkable one! One you can all be proud of!
My deepest condolences
Sincerely,
Judy
Celia, you were an always will be a wonderful person, I remember so well all the meals you gave this little kid who had just moved to Arizona, especially during the Holidays. Having known your family, thank you for letting me be a part of that and knowing you has enriched many lives.
Marsha
Dear Ann, Pat and Mary,
Working with your mother in the last part of her life was a great privilege I had and I will always remember her in my heart. I wish I would have known her sooner. I learned a lot with her.
Sincerely
Nathalie.
Dear Ann, Pat, Mary and Sandy.
Meeting Celia was quite an adventure. We had some very
fun times together. She taught us “the girls” great lessons she
learned during her life….from cooking to working. Ways to
accomplish anything you put your mind to. I thank you all
for your devotion to Celia, making her last years of her life full
of love, and understanding. We “girls” loved her very much
and I think she knew we did. I always think of her with a giggle
when I have the choice of nut bread or donuts…just between you
and me…she would pick that DONUT! Honest! She would!