A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Celestia Koebel was celebrated Dec. 4 at the motherhouse chapel. Sister Celestia, 87, died Nov. 27 at Good Samaritan Hospital. She was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 69 years.

A native of Chillicothe, Sister Celestia began her ministry in nursing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati in 1948. She also served at Good Samaritan in Dayton and at hospitals in Colorado and New Mexico. After serving as director of nursing services in Dayton, she completed her master’s degree, followed by 21 years as administrator at St. Joseph Hospital in Albuquerque.

In addition, she served as the first woman chair of the USCC Diocesan Coordinators of Health Affairs, president of the Association of Western Hospitals (The Healthcare Forum), trustee of the Catholic Health Association (CHA), and governor of the American College of Healthcare Executives. In 1985, she was appointed president of the Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems. In retirement, she continued to serve on various boards and at the information desk at the motherhouse.

Sister Celestia is survived by her sisters, Judy Lohrer and Sister of Charity Ann Koebel. Interment was in the Sisters of Charity Cemetery.