Celeste Clara Hill, 84, of Olathe, Kansas passed away peacefully with family at her bedside on Thursday, January 18, 2024. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. and Celebration of Life at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 29, 2024 at Porter Funeral Homes in Lenexa, Kansas.
Celeste was born August 30, 1939 in Montrose, Missouri, the third of four children to Andrew and Adelia (Cook) Bettels. Growing up, her family lived on a farm with crops and many animals.
She graduated from Montrose High School in 1958 where she was in choir and on the yearbook and newspaper staff. After graduating, she moved to Kansas City and started her first job as a computer key punch operator at Sinclair, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Ed Hill. They were married on August 24, 1963 and a year later began their family with the birth of the first of two children. Ed and Celeste celebrated an incredible 59 years of marriage.
Celeste adored children and spent many years working at Mission Day Care and Countryside Christian Church Mother’s Day Out. She also regularly volunteered at St. Pius Catholic School assisting teachers, planning holiday parties, and helping with recess. In 1990, Celeste took on a new role as a cherished grandma. Outside of family, her passions included flower and vegetable gardening, baking, shopping for a good deal, and a love for Elvis Presley’s music.
In 2017, Ed and Celeste moved to Santa Marta, where they met many new friends. Shortly after, Celeste was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and moved into Memory Care, and later Skilled Nursing, where she always enjoyed her visitors and activities. We would like to thank the
staff at Santa Marta for their care and compassion for our mom and grandma.
Celeste lived a wonderful life surrounded by friends and family. She was a lifelong, devout Catholic and consistently put the needs of others ahead of her own. She was the first to offer help by bringing a meal or volunteering her time. Celeste always had a smile and a great sense of humor, which remained until her last day. She will always be remembered for her generosity and selfless love.
Celeste was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Gerald and Hubert Bettels, sister Lucille Hutton Lucas, and husband Ed. She is survived by her daughter Becky (Mark) Denton, Lenexa, Kansas; son Brian (Andrea) Hill, Lenexa, Kansas; and two grandchildren, Kyle Denton, Boston, Massachusetts; Kelli (Blake) Neuman, Costa Mesa, California.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Catholic Community Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.
