Celine Theresa Siira's Obituary
Celine Theresa Siira (Brand), 93, passed away peacefully at home on May 6 in Culpeper, Virginia. She was born August 18, 1930 in New Ulm, Minnesota and was the daughter of Edward Brand and Rose (Gleisner) Brand. She was preceded in death by her husband Eino Siira, her son, James Siira (Sharon), her brother, James Brand, his wife Doris (LaPlant) Brand, sisters Beata Wolak and Bonita Brand and brothers Eugene and Anthony (Carol) Brand.
Celine is survived by her children Edward of Madison County, Cynthia of Culpeper, Robert (Ginger) of Culpeper, and Richard (Margaret) of Richmond. She has ten loved grandchildren: Rebecca (Kenny) Dussault (Haverhill, Massachusetts), Michael Chedester (Richmond), Leah (Tony) Cambardella (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia), Katie Siira (Charles Town, West Virginia), Alina Siira (Germantown, Maryland), Valerie Siira (Augusta, West Virginia), Meron Siira (Augusta, Georgia), Rebecca (Eric) Hammerbacher (Beaufort, South Carolina), and Aidan Siira (Richmond, Virginia). Great grandchildren include Joseph and Celine Dussault (Haverhill, Mass), Mariah Baker, Mark Daffron, and TJ Daffron (Harpers Ferry, West Virginia). She had many nieces and nephews scattered throughout the United States.
Celine graduated from Foley High in 1949 and began work at the Benton County Agricultural Extension office where she met Eino Siira. They married on February 1, 1950 and drove to Cancun, Mexico for their honeymoon. Eino and Celine wanted to travel and they got their wish when Eino was accepted to work for the United States Overseas Mission (USAID) as an agricultural extension agent working with foreign local governments in the field of agriculture. Their first posting was in Khoms, Libya where they lived in a home on an olive grove in the country with electricity only partially during the day and lanterns or a generator for
evening light. They then moved to Tripoli and finished their almost five years in Libya stationed in Benghazi. Eino’s next overseas
assignments were Mogadishu, Somalia for two years, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (5 years), and Panama (2 Years). Celine lived in countries where she had to take care of her family in challenging situations and she enjoyed the adventure. Throughout their lives, Celine and Eino traveled throughout Africa, Europe, Central and South America, China, Russia, and drove to Alaska through Canada.
In her late forties she pursued a degree, and in 1980 she graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in history.
When they settled in Rappahannock County, Virginia, they built their own house, doing most of the work themselves, including laying the foundation. Celine became involved with the Rappahannock Garden Club, volunteered at the Rappahannock County Library, and played bridge in two bridge clubs. When they moved to Culpeper, she volunteered at the Used Book Store at the Culpeper County Library. In 2009 she was presented with the Volunteer Service Award by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, and in 2012 the Virginia Public Library Directors Association presented her with the Outstanding Library Friend Award. In 2014 Celine was the Culpeper Women’s Club Volunteer of the Year nominated for her hours of work. She increased the used book sales and started using a program to sell the used books on Amazon. The library dedicated the Used Bookstore in her name in 2021. She continued to play bridge with her friends until several months ago. And she loved to read and discuss literature with friends and was an active member of the Culpeper Library book club.
But beyond her work in the community, she was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was known for her generous hospitality, great cooking, beautiful garden, and love of family. She will be missed by so many people.
The family will receive friends at Found and Sons on Saturday, May 25 at 10am and a service at 11am.
The invites those unable to attend in person to watch via livestream at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcxNjMzNDM5ODMxMDIzNiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==
Please consider The Friends of the Culpeper County Library, 271 Southgate Shopping Center, Culpeper, VA 22701 in lieu of flowers.
An online guestbook and tribute wall are available at www.foundandsons.com
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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