Obituary of Cemile Celebi

Remembering Cemile Celebi  

With sorrowful hearts we share the departure of our beloved Cemile Celebi, age 90, on March 1, 2025, at her King of Prussia home.  She was surrounded by her loving husband, son, daughter, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law at her side. She was born in Eymur village, in the city of Ordu in Turkey to Niyazi and Fatma Kahraman on September 27, 1934.      

Cemile is survived by her husband Kaya, daughter Cagla and her husband Tom DeAngelo of Chester Springs, PA, son Cengiz and daughter-in-law Charmaine Prusinowski, both of King of Prussia PA, a beautiful granddaughter, Sarah Aylin Cemile Celebi and her husband Alex el Badawi of Staten Island, NY, a lovely great granddaughter, Noure, of Staten Island, NY. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews in Turkey; Aydin and his wife Zeynep, Nigar, Gunay, Seker, Engin and his wife Gul, Guzin, Ziynet, Kiymet, Seker, Ertan and his wife Feza, Mustafa, Sema, Selma, Belma and her husband Haluk, her brothers-in-law Dogan Celebi, Ahmet Celebi and his wife Hacer, many cousins; and friends here and in Turkey.  

Family always came first with Cemile.  Her infinite love and pride in daughter Cagla and son Cengiz always showed in her smiling face, loving embraces, and kisses.  She was a loving person, extremely generous, and wanted and prayed for the best for everyone.  Her kind heart ached easily for those in need, and she never hesitated to help anyone who asked for help.  Even the street beggars in her native country always received a kind smile and donation from her.  

As the sixth of seven siblings, Cemile grew up on the Black Sea coast city of Ordu, in the northeastern part of Turkey, surrounded by hazelnut orchards set up by her enterprising grandparents and father who found time to work as a medical assistant, operate a general store, manage property, manage his farm, and spend time with his family.  Cemile’s heart never filled the void left by the early death of her beloved and gentle father.  

At a time of great historical change in her native country she acquired the love of learning, service to country and wanted to become a teacher when such career options were not available to young women in a remote hilltop village.  Freed from the hazelnut orchard and household labor by her elder siblings, she was free to roam, play with her younger sister, visit friends, read, and develop her mind.  Her mother also encouraged and supported Cemile to pursue her education.  

Her educational goals were further encouraged by a close friend of her brothers who later became her teacher and brother-in-law.  After completing her primary education in the village, she was accepted into Teachers College in Izmir.  Her brother Ismail accompanied her on an arduous ship journey from Ordu to Izmir and waited there for her to settle in while he did odd jobs in the area to support himself.  

She graduated with honors from Teachers College and the years she spent there had a deep impact on her life.  She frequently spoke about the countless teachers who supported and guided her.  Her teachers’ selfless kindness to children from all around the country, mostly from humble backgrounds were an inspiration to Cemile and her classmates.  While at the Teachers College, she lost her beloved mother who had boundless love for her family, and kindness and generosity for friends and strangers alike.  

After graduation Cemile worked as a teacher in small towns on the Black Sea coast and later came back to her village Eymur and taught elementary school.  In her village she met her husband Kaya who was often there to visit his sister Zenibe and his brother-in-law Abdullah, who was also the best friend of Cemile’s brothers and had been her teacher.  

After deciding to get married, Cemile & Kaya were transferred to Istanbul to complete their mandatory services required as part of their government funded educations.  In Istanbul they started their family and circle of close friends in Mecidiyekoy, Istanbul.  

Cemile was the type of teacher that every parent wanted to have for their child.  She was disciplined but was a friend to all and deeply loved each and every student, looking after them for five years she created a special bond between them.  It was very common for her students to continue to visit her many years after graduation.  She often attended their weddings and family events.  It was a very frequent occurrence to have someone on the street walk up to her and introduce themselves as one of her students.  Hugs and smiles would pursue.  

She also had a deep love of America, having heard about life there from her two uncles who had emigrated to the US and settled in Buffalo, NY.  When she was a child, one of her uncles and his American wife wanted to adapt Cemile and her younger sister Hasret and bring them to the US but her mother could not be persuaded to be apart from her two youngest daughters.  
Decades later, fate intervened, Cemile moved to the US when she and her husband decided to be closer to their daughter and son in the Washington D.C. and Maryland areas.  

Cemile lived and worked in Mecidiyekoy, Kanlica, Altunizade, Uskudar, Erenkoy, Caddebostan, all in Turkey, as well as Bethesda MD, Silver Springs MD, Downingtown, PA and King of Prussia, PA.  
She loved and enjoyed music, cooking, and spending time with her family.  Her life and her long years of service as a teacher trumpet the importance of love, endurance, joy, and hope. She was always on the side of truth, justice, and love.  

Her most cherished accomplishments were her two children, who were both incredibly involved in her day-to-day life.  Education was very important to Cemile, and she encouraged and made every sacrifice to make sure her children had an exceptional education.  She was very proud of her granddaughter (Dr.) Sarah, her wonderful husband Alex, and her beautiful great granddaughter Noure, who always shined with true radiance in her heart like her beautiful name.  

We say goodbye with:
•    A bouquet of red and pink roses for our mother who:
Delighted her children with arm-in-arm walks on tree lined roads, countless ferry rides on the Bosphorus on our way to visit family and friends.  Her voice blending with seagulls and waves as she yelled out “be careful” “don’t get to close to the edge” to us on the back of the ferries where my brother and I loved to stand and gaze at Istanbul sprawled on two continents.  She filled our summer afternoons with cakes, boreks, biscuits, toasties, teas, ayrans, simits, baklavas, tulumbas laughter and visits.  She would allow us to eat ice cream only with custard so that it would not be too cold for our throats.  Walked us through fish markets, butchers, fabric stores, neighborhood shops and in the process taught us how to shop and relate to every person who waited on us.  

•    A bouquet of pink, purple, and blue hydrangeas for our mother who:
Encouraged her little girl and boy to recite poetry at a podium in front of a crowd at the school she taught.  Took us on regular visits to bookstores with the beautiful smell of books and supplies.  She endured long years of being separated by an ocean from her children for the sake of their education.  She left us a book of her recipes to continue family meals and togetherness.

•    A bouquet of lavender for our mother who:
Sewed our clothes, knitted sweaters, starched white collars and ribbons of our school uniforms, signed us up for music classes, choir singing, folk dancing, volleyball, language classes, tutors and prep classes for entrance exams.  She took us to afternoon matinees, sometimes double matinees followed by dolmus rides (“stuffed” shared taxi) home.  Laughed as she watched her kids jump on the scale in the corner of the ferry station that also dispensed chewing gum with each weighing.  She could not pass by a street beggar or turn away anyone who asked without giving a donation and prayers.  

•    An embrace and a kiss for our mother who: 
Hugged and kissed us daily with her warmest affection and love.  Advised us to be kind and loving to one another and to all. 

•    A red rose to bloom in eternity for our mother’s beautiful soul and to surround her with our eternal love.  

A viewing will be held from 10 am to 11 am at the Patriots House, Washington Memorial Chapel at Valley Forge, PA 19481.  
Memorial service will follow at the Washington Memorial Chapel. A graveside service will follow immediately after at the Washington Chapel Church Yard.