Cecelia (Costantini) Gill

Cecelia Catherine (Costantini) Gill, 94, passed away peacefully with her loving family present, at

400pm, Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at Whispering Pines Village, in Columbiana, Ohio.

Cecelia was born March 13, 1931, in Hopedale, Ohio. A daughter of Gaetano and Rose

(Patchen) Costantini.

She graduated with honors, as salutatorian, from Hopedale High School in 1949. As a standout

in academics and vocal performance, Cecelia was offered a full music scholarship to Ohio

University, but did not attend.

She worked as a bookkeeper in her younger years. Later in life she volunteered faithfully for

decades, for charitable and church causes.

Cecelia had a caring, warmth and hospitality that began as a small child, and lasted throughout

her entire life. People enjoyed and responded to her kindness and smile. She loved God. She

was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, great-aunt,

Godmother, and friend to us all. She grew up in an Italian immigrant family (led by her father

Guy) that promoted Faith in God, America, family, military service, education, hard work and

giving back.

She married the love of her life, Joseph Minor Gill, in 1960, and the couple started on a

tremendous journey together, while Joe was still serving in the USAF. The pair started with very

little and produced a blessed life together, with Cecelia supporting and advising her husband, all

along the way, as Joe worked very hard in business to achieve success. As parents, Joe and

Cecelia were an example to their three children (Angela, Wayne and Charles), guiding them to

embrace the gift of self reliance, productivity, and hard work – solid beliefs, which are the

cornerstones for our large, loving family that survives. Joe and Cecelia believed in giving. Lastly

and most important, they both were steadfast examples with their Faith In Christ, which is

perpetuated throughout their entire survivorship, legacy and heritage.

After living in Louisiana and Florida, she spent almost 40 years as a resident of Canfield, OH.

Cecelia was a 50 year plus member of The Order of the Eastern Star. She supported her

husband in The Civil Air Patrol. She was a member of the Canfield Methodist Church for many

years, volunteering on numerous committees. She was a Past President of The Angels of

Easter Seal. Cecelia volunteered for decades supporting the work of Easter Seals and was a

part of the original cookbook committee in 1981, which published the Angels and Friends

cookbook series, to help provide funding for the cause. She also volunteered for years at Hilltop

Elementary School in Canfield, reading with children, which she thoroughly enjoyed, after her

husband passed away in 2002.

Cecelia was a great cook and she loved to feed people. She loved music and singing, playing

cards and reading books, too. She read books with enthusiasm, until very recently.

Cecelia lived a very long life, long enough to see a large family legacy, that will miss her dearly.

She is survived by her three children: Angela Diane(Gill) Fleming(Ronald,Sr.);Joseph Wayne

Gill(Diana); and Charles William Gill, Sr.(Sherri). She is survived by her five grandchildren:

Ronald Wayne Fleming, Jr.(Dawn); Elizabeth Anne(Fleming) DeLucia(Steve); Joseph Wayne

Gill, II(Melissa); Ashley Lizbeth(Gill) Buzard(Jacob);and Charles William Gill, Jr. She is survived

by her eleven great-grandchildren: Joseph, Michael, Gianna, and Angelo(DeLucia); Nathan,

Allyson, and Carly(Fleming); Joseph,III and Mavis Cecelia(Gill);Lilian and Wyatt(Buzard). She

is also survived by her sister-in-law, Ann Costantini; Godson Michael Patchen; and special son

of her heart, Samuel Gorant.

Cecelia is preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents, her sister Claire(Snyder), her

brother Dr. Leonard V. Costantini, and her grandson James Mason Gill.

A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

The family is grateful to the entire staff at Whispering Pines Village-Senior Living & Assisted

Care, and the hospice team, who cared for Cecelia over the last year. She enjoyed her time at

Whispering Pines.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Cecelia’s name to Easterseals of

Northeast Ohio, 299 Edwards Street, Youngstown, OH 44502, Shriners Hospitals for Children,

or a charity of their choice.