Obituary for Hadassah Cestero
Hadassah Eleanor Sumersille Cestero was called home to our Father in heaven on February 9, 2021 to join her loving husband, Papi (Juan Enrique Cestero) who passed away in 1991, and her children Sylvia Golden of Maryland, Lillian Dillon of New Jersey, and Dennis Cestero of New York City. She is survived by her son, John Cestero and wife, Milli of Monroe NY, as well as her sister, Gladys Sumersille and nephew, Manny Goas of Queens NYC, all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and many loving friends and neighbors.
In Hadassah’s own words from an interview by her granddaughter, Gwen and her husband, Nano Bustamante on December 16, 2020, “I am an American of Jewish and French descent, born in Puerto Rico in 1917. My mother, Josephine Hochfelder, was from Hungary, a Hungarian Jew. My father, Alano Erle Sumersille, is French from St Croix. My paternal grandfather was a minister from the 1800s. My maternal grandfather, Leopold Hochfelder was a Cantor for the local temple in Nagy Bittse, Hungary.” Hadassah continued, “I always loved school and when I came to New York City, I did not speak English, but Miss O'Brien took the time to teach me and gave me my nickname, ‘Dassie’ and pronounced it as ‘Day-see, Daisy’". When asked how would you describe yourself, she replied, “Three words - ‘pain in the a--’! Truly, I am just a normal average person - witty, feisty and loving."
Dassie was predeceased by her sisters Erna Sofia, Cynthia, Carmen, and her brother Rene, and was close to all her siblings growing up in New York City. She cherished her pet chihuahua Linda, her dachshund Suzie-q, and her terrier Jaydee. Until she couldn’t see, she crocheted and knitted an abundance of afghans. Daisy also loved her career and retired from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co on 23 Street in NYC. In her 90’s, she retired from ShopRite on Dolson Avenue in Middletown as a special produce worker. Daisy was honored and proud to have been featured as one of the oldest union members still active in the labor force to age 97.
Family and extended members of the family remember Daisy/Mami/Grandma or Nana across generations as a hard dedicated worker, a loyal friend, a passionate grandmother, as well as a mother who demanded respect and love all while loving with her entire being. Whichever generation you were and had the pleasure of knowing Dassie, surely you were touched by her will to live, her fierce heart filled with passion, and, most assuredly her infinite and ultimate independence, even as a “blessed” centenarian of 103.
Hadassah will always be remembered for her passion and commitment to "living". Through all her hardship, especially with the loss of loved ones, she injected life with an insurmountable amount of energy and truly honest and pure conversation, always ready to say what she means and what is on her mind. She was a fighter to the very end and only wished not to die alone. In her final hours, God granted her that wish as she died in her son’s arms.
Viewing will be held at ApplebeeMcPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown NY, on Tuesday, February 16 from 1-4pm. Burial will be at Calverton National Cemetery in Riverhead, Suffolk County LI at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, family expresses appreciation of donations, either to (1) the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, or stjude.org, memorial donations; or (2) the aspca.org/donate/memorial.
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In Hadassah’s own words from an interview by her granddaughter, Gwen and her husband, Nano Bustamante on December 16, 2020, “I am an American of Jewish and French descent, born in Puerto Rico in 1917. My mother, Josephine Hochfelder, was from Hungary, a Hungarian Jew. My father, Alano Erle Sumersille, is French from St Croix. My paternal grandfather was a minister from the 1800s. My maternal grandfather, Leopold Hochfelder was a Cantor for the local temple in Nagy Bittse, Hungary.” Hadassah continued, “I always loved school and when I came to New York City, I did not speak English, but Miss O'Brien took the time to teach me and gave me my nickname, ‘Dassie’ and pronounced it as ‘Day-see, Daisy’". When asked how would you describe yourself, she replied, “Three words - ‘pain in the a--’! Truly, I am just a normal average person - witty, feisty and loving."
Dassie was predeceased by her sisters Erna Sofia, Cynthia, Carmen, and her brother Rene, and was close to all her siblings growing up in New York City. She cherished her pet chihuahua Linda, her dachshund Suzie-q, and her terrier Jaydee. Until she couldn’t see, she crocheted and knitted an abundance of afghans. Daisy also loved her career and retired from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co on 23 Street in NYC. In her 90’s, she retired from ShopRite on Dolson Avenue in Middletown as a special produce worker. Daisy was honored and proud to have been featured as one of the oldest union members still active in the labor force to age 97.
Family and extended members of the family remember Daisy/Mami/Grandma or Nana across generations as a hard dedicated worker, a loyal friend, a passionate grandmother, as well as a mother who demanded respect and love all while loving with her entire being. Whichever generation you were and had the pleasure of knowing Dassie, surely you were touched by her will to live, her fierce heart filled with passion, and, most assuredly her infinite and ultimate independence, even as a “blessed” centenarian of 103.
Hadassah will always be remembered for her passion and commitment to "living". Through all her hardship, especially with the loss of loved ones, she injected life with an insurmountable amount of energy and truly honest and pure conversation, always ready to say what she means and what is on her mind. She was a fighter to the very end and only wished not to die alone. In her final hours, God granted her that wish as she died in her son’s arms.
Viewing will be held at ApplebeeMcPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown NY, on Tuesday, February 16 from 1-4pm. Burial will be at Calverton National Cemetery in Riverhead, Suffolk County LI at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, family expresses appreciation of donations, either to (1) the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, or stjude.org, memorial donations; or (2) the aspca.org/donate/memorial.
To plant a tree in memory of Hadassah Cestero, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
16
Feb
1:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home
130 Highland Ave.
Middletown, NY 10940
Graveside
Wednesday
17
Feb
11:30 AM
Calverton National Cemetery
Long Island
Wading River, NY 11792
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