NISKAYUNA –

Major Celeste (Sodano) was a woman of "firsts" and a gentle heart. A retired 20-year veteran of the New York Army National Guard, she was a pioneer for women in the service and a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal. In her retirement, she poured her love into her beautiful gardens, her family and dear friends.

A New Jersey-born native, Celeste made her home in Upstate New York in the Town of Niskayuna, where she was an avid gardener. She was generous to everyone she met—family, friend, and stranger alike. Her legacy of kindness and strength lives on through her siblings and her many nieces and nephews of New Jersey as well as her close and dear friends of New York. She leaves behind a world made more beautiful by her gardens, her service to our country and her kindness unto others.

Celeste passed away on March 24, 2026 in the comfort of her own home and was laid to rest with military honors on April 14, 2026 in St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Madison, New Jersey through her family.

Her friends in New York have arranged for a local Celebration of Life for Celeste to be held on Friday, May 15, 2026 from 3-7 pm at the Iron and Ale Grill & Bar at the Town of Colonie Golf Course, located at: 418 Consaul Road, Schenectady, NY 12304.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com