Margherita "Celeste" Takagi Kaechele

    July 8, 1948 ~ February 13, 2013

     Margherita Celeste Takagi Kaechele went to be with the Lord on Feb. 13, 2013.  Celeste was born July       8, 1948 in Tucson, Arizona to Henry and Margherita Takagi. She was the second of eight children and       the only daughter.

Henry served in the army and the family moved around a lot while Celeste was growing up.

Celeste married Doug Kaechele on August 14, 1981. They owned a small farm in central Washington. They stayed there for a few years but eventually moved to Tucson, where much of her family lived. On December 1, 1987, they had their only child, Cherise.  After having seven brothers, she always said she wanted only one child, and wanted it to be a girl.

The threesome moved to Spokane, another place Celeste's family had once lived, and lived there until 2002 when they decided they wanted to leave the big city and move to a place where they could, once again, own a farm. Most of Celeste’s brothers lived in the Boise area at this time, and she wanted to live near her family. They found the perfect place outside of Ontario, Oregon.  Celeste was once again surrounded by her family and they had peace and quiet living in the country.

Celeste worked for the Ontario School District as an instructional assistant in the special education department at the high school.  Celeste was always so good with the students, and it was during these years that she was truly the happiest. 

In 2011, she had to retire due to her health. Despite the constant struggle to breathe, she never complained.

Celeste had a great sense of humor that was misunderstood by some but was also thoroughly enjoyed by those she was close to.

Last summer Celeste was able to go to Tucson and visit her brother, cousins, aunts, and more of her extended family that she grew up with but had not seen for many years. Mom said she went down there to say goodbye. She didn’t think she’d be up for a trip like that again. 

Celeste is preceded in death by her mother, father and younger brother John Takagi.

She is survived by her husband Doug; daughter Cherise; brothers Patrick (Ellen), Mark (Nancy), Peter (Kim), and Henry of Idaho; Mike of Arizona; and Paul (Jan) of Virginia.  She had many cousins who lived in Arizona and was Tía to numerous nieces and nephews.

Celeste is with Jesus now and is no longer suffering or in pain.

Memorial services will be held Monday, February 18 at 1 p.m. at the Lighthouse Worship Center in Ontario. 

Published in the Argus Observer, Ontario, Oregon.