Echevarria, Celestino Feliciano

Celestino Feliciano ‘Tino’ Echevarria, of Niles
April 18, 1933 — June 24, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:01 am Wednesday, June 27, 2018

April 18, 1933 — June 24, 2018

Celestino Feliciano “Tino” Echevarria, 85, of Niles, died peacefully at 11:25 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2018, with family gathered around at his home following a brief illness.

He was born on April 18, 1933, in Anasco, Puerto Rico, to Jose Feliciano and Severiana Echavarria, and attended school in Puerto Rico.

Celestino Feliciano “Tino” Echevarria

He came to Niles in 1956, and retired after 28 years of service from the Niles Community Schools.

Tino has been attending Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles. He and his wife enjoyed traveling to Puerto Rico, took several cruises to the Caribbean, toured South America, and visited Las Vegas.

He also enjoyed the produce of his garden, his flock of chickens, and his goats.

On Oct. 25, 1958, in Buchanan, he married the former Geraldine Carter with whom he celebrated the 57 anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on Jan. 19, 2016.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, and by several siblings including his sister, Agueda Rodriguez.

Surviving family includes his children, Patricia (Philip) Bianchini, David (Tonia) Echevarria, and Steven Echevarria, all of Niles, and Robert (Patricia) Echevarria of Katy, Texas, grandchildren Shawn Echevarria, Christopher (Karina) Dunnem, Michael (Bekah) Echevarria, Amanda Echevarria, Brian Echevarria, Dena Dunnem, Denise (Nathan) Ford, Kc Dunnem, Haley Echevarria, and Joey Echevarria; 10 great-grandchildren, and Tino’s siblings, Isabel Echevarria of South Bend, Indiana, Primitiva Rodriguez and Jose Rodriguez, both of Anasco, and Amado Rodriguez of Phoenix, Arizona, and many nieces and nephews.

The Catholic Funeral Liturgy for Celestino Echevarria will be read at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2018, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street, in Niles, by the Rev. Christian Johnston of Saint Mary Catholic Church. Committal Rites will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com