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In memory of

Nelly Hidalgo Celi

Paterson, NJ, USA

July 13, 1970 - July 29, 2021

Jul 13, 1970 - Jul 29, 2021

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Commissioner, Nelly Hidalgo Celi, was born on July 13, 1970, in Lima, Peru. CShe graduated from St. Mary's Elementary School, Mary Help of Christians Academy, and attended William Paterson University. Nelly Celi was employed as Program Manager for the Paterson Education Fund in Paterson, New Jersey. She also oversaw the Paterson Reads Program and worked to ensure that every child was reading on grade level by the 3rd grade.

She was recently elected Board Chair of the New Jersey Equal Opportunity Fund (EOF) State Board of Directors; served on the Board of Trustees for the Paterson Library and Museum, currently serving as President; was a member of the NJ Higher Education Restart Advisory Committee; a Board Member for the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey as well as a Committee Member for the Peru Square Street Naming Initiative. Additionally, Nelly participated in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and Educational Opportunity Fund as a Board Member Representative; served as Secretary of the Grandparents as Parents Alliance; was a founding Board Member of the Paterson Performing Arts Development Council (PPADC); and held a former position as Commissioner of the Paterson Planning Board.

In 2003, Nelly assisted in founding Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey's Celebrate Girls Paterson Summer Program as well as its Girl Sports program in the previous year. In 2008 and 2017, Nelly was awarded the Extra Mile Award by the Paterson Alliance Organization for her contributions to Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey and Paterson Public Library. In 2018, Nelly was also honored by the Peruvian Civic Association of New Jersey.

Nelly Celi resided in Paterson, NJ. As a young child, Nelly's mother introduced her to hard work and endurance through assembling puzzles. They would spend hours upon hours working together until the puzzles were completed. This taught her the importance of community, consistency, and commitment that allowed her to create a legacy of life skills she carried with her. Her dedication to her community will never be forgotten and felt for years to come reaching future generations.

Nelly loved traveling. She traveled to Peru, Canada, Panama, Jamaica, Mexico, Italy, London, and thirty-three states. While she enjoyed traveling, both domestically & internationally, her favorite place to get away and watch the ocean was in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. She also loved museums, history, art, house tours, fine cuisine, and was an avid reader. Nelly's favorite book was "For One More Day" by Mitch Albom.

Nelly was preceded in death by her loving parents, Juan Hidalgo and Celia Lau.
She is survived by her husband, Vicente Celi, and leaves to cherish beautiful memories, her loving cousins, Gina Hidalgo, Liz Hidalgo, Monica Andali, children - Israel Rodríguez, Eileen Andali, Katerina Miltakis and Baby Mathias, Giselle Robles, and a host of family members. Her best friend, Charisse Taylor, and daughters, Dominique & Deanna Taylor. Mentees, Dacil Tilos, Amanda Addotta, Julieta Martinez, Shanikwa Lemon, Aaliyah Agarini, Shirley Bedoya, devoted friends, Honorable Bernice Toledo, Kat Esquiche, Carol Cuadrado, Lorena Kirschner, Derya Taskin, Elizabeth Estella Van Ginneken, Rocio Pena, Karen Pena, Diane Vargas, Ciro Callegari, Liliana Quintero, Joanne Palatucci, and Delilah Haro, her Salesian family at Mary Help of Christians, and the Paterson Community.

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