Cecelia C. Costantini Gill 1931-2025

Cecelia was born March 13, 1931, in Hopedale, 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 importantly, 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. 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 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 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 11 great-grandchildren, Joseph, Michael, Gianna and Angelo DeLucia, Nathan, Allyson and Carly Fleming, Joseph III and Mavis Cecelia Gill, and 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 was 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 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 St., Youngstown, OH 44502, Shriners Hospitals for Children or a charity of their choice.

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