2018 RSVP of Westchester Spring Recognition Event Honoree: Celeste Vazzana
Celeste Vazzana of Scarsdale first began volunteering at the White Plains Hospital Gift Shop in 1989 and has since volunteered over 6,600 hours of service.
This past week, Celeste was honored for her service as a Senior Corps member, at the annual RSVP of Westchester Spring Recognition event, which took place at Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry, with over 70 fellow RSVP volunteers and guests.
“All people are alike, whether they know it or not. We should treat everybody the way you want to be treated,” said RSVP of Westchester member, Celeste Vazzana days after her 101st birthday when asked about her message to other volunteers. “Just take every day as it comes and make the best of it. That’s all you can do.”
Celeste has lived a long full life, full of ups and downs, but has persisted and made the best of it for her family in light of any obstacles she faced. She was married for 30 years before her husband passed away in 1967. On her own with five young daughters, she went back to work full time at the New York Telephone Company so that her daughters could all finish or attend college. And after almost 30 years of local service, Celeste has come to embody the motto that “Senior Corps members get things done.”
According to Charles Martinez, manager of the White Plains Hospital Gift Shop, where she has volunteered since 1989, “Celeste often gets here at 8:30 in the morning, an hour before we open, and is waiting for us. She is very organized and always has her day planned.”
“Celeste is an amazing example of what it means to be in the Senior Corps here in Westchester,” said RSVP of Westchester Director, Rosie Samudio. “I’m proud to have gotten to know her and see the impact she continues to make in our community.”
.png)
