Obituary of Cecelia DeStefano

Cecelia DeStefano, “Tillie” age 96, of Whitehouse Station, NJ died at the Avalon Assisted Living in Bridgewater, under the compassionate care of Embracing Hospice.

Born in Brooklyn, NY she was the daughter of the late Christo and Grace Lotito.

Previously from Rochester, NY she resided in Whitehouse Station for the past 60 years.

Tillie began her long and illustrious business career by working as a young child in the Lebanon Cheese Factory which was owned by her parents.  As a young woman she worked as a telephone operator in Lebanon and Epstein’s Department Store in Morristown and Somerville.  She started and worked for DeStefano Foods and in addition owned her own catering business, D&C Catering.

She was a devoted member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Whitehouse Station where she was a founding member of their Altar Rosary Society.  In addition to all her many business accomplishments, Tillie was a philanthropic person as well. She was an active volunteer at Mt. St. John Academy in Gladstone, participating in many, many fundraising events throughout the years.  She was one of the original members of the Immaculata Spartan Club and volunteered as a secretary for Readington Little League.  Tillie adored her children and grandchildren, and her family was the light of her life. 

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Chester in 2006.

She is survived by her two daughters, Linda Singler and her husband, Peter of Royal Oak, MI and Christine Benato and her husband, Fulvio of Raritan; her three sons, Chester Jr. and his wife, Mary of Sparta, Dean and his wife, Phyllis of Whitehouse Station, and Christopher and his wife, Pam of Ringos; her 12 grandchildren, Peter and his wife, Elizabeth, Krista and her husband, Christopher, James and his wife, Cara, Joseph and his fiancé, Jenna, Thomas and his partner, Josh, Michael and his wife, Elizabeth, Daniel, Luke, Chiara, Alexandra, Nicholas & Sarah as well as her 7 great grandchildren, Catherine, Isabella, Alexandra, Leah, Samantha, Lilly and Cameron.

A funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Whitehouse Station.

Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse, NJ 08888.

Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery in Bridgewater.

In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated for Embracing Hospice Care Foundation, 334 Highway 138, Building D, Suite F, Wall, NJ. 07719 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org