Cecelia Guagliardi

Cecelia F. Grumblatt Guagliardi, age 92 of Erie, passed away quietly at Manchester Commons in Erie, on Saturday, October 21, 2017.

A lifelong Erieite, Ceil was born at home on West 24^th Street to Frank (Joe) and Frances Hellman Grumblatt on March 26^th, 1925.  She was the youngest daughter and the oldest surviving child from a family of nine children.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Charles E. Guagliardi; three sisters, Maryann Greishaw, Gertrude Markham and Elizabeth (Betty) Smith and five brothers, Carl, Alfred, Frank, Eugene and William Grumblatt.

From a young age, Ceil was a high energy person with a wall to wall smile.  She loved to sing, play piano and especially loved to dance to Big Band music well into her golden years.  During her high school days at Strong Vincent, Ceil worked part-time at various downtown department stores and confection shops.  Her favorite job was working the elevators for The Boston Store.  Upon graduation, she worked briefly at General Electric Company’s Naval Office where she enlisted and was discharged from the Navy within the same month, as WWII had just ended.

Ceil found her partner for life, Charles (Chuck) Guagliardi while working at Angelotti’s  Supper Club in Little Italy.  They married in 1947 and subsequently raised six children.  A skilled seamstress, expert fancy needle worker and avid gardener, especially with roses, Ceil also managed to complete two crossword puzzles most days.  She looked forward to picnics and walks on the beach at Presque Isle with her family whenever she could.  Visiting siblings, children and grandchildren scattered around the country gave Ceil great pleasure.  She loved visiting her brother Frank in Phoenix and once recorded and distributed audio tapes of his nightclub gig to all the family.

Ceil was a lifelong member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and volunteered at the church’s Food Bank.  She was a member of the St. Vincent’s Hospital Auxiliary and the Asbury Senior Citizen’s Group.

Surviving family include three sons, Charles (Chuck Jr.) Guagliardi and wife Paula Michalegko of Erie, John Guagliardi and wife Yukie of Mililani, HI, and Gary Guagliardi and wife Sherri of Nazareth, PA; three daughters, Paula and her husband Eugene Schaefer of Hillsborough, NJ, Natalie and her husband Gordon Watts of Stone Mountain GA, and Nancy and her husband Bradley Madara of Erie.  She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1626 West 26^th Street on Friday at 10 AM.   Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Mausoleum. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Manchester Commons for their loving care of Ceil.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blessed Sacrament Church, or Erie Homes for Children and Adults, 226 East 27^th St., Erie PA 16504.  Send condolences at  www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.   Arrangements entrusted to Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10^th Street.

“Music is the speech of angels.”  St. Cecelia, patron saint of music.