SHERBURNE – Celeste G. Purdy, 81, of Shawler Brook Rd., passed away Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center, Johnson City. 
She was born May 25, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pa., to Clifford and Veronica Murphy Morgan, and graduated from Melverne High School in Long Island. On Sept. 25, 1949, Celeste married Richard H. Purdy (Dick) in Valley Stream, Long Island.
Raising six children in the suburban town of Baldwin, Dick and Celeste determined in 1963 that they needed more room for the children to roam and settled on a 74 acre farm in Sherburne. An additional three children were born in upstate NY. Celeste shared with her husband a generous and caring spirit, taking in several additional teenagers. At home, Celeste would cheerfully go about the many labors of raising children singing a melody in a rich and beautiful soprano voice. She was lively and happy with a contagious laugh. Celeste was instrumental to the success of the family owned meat processing business, Purdy and Sons, filling the role of working mother with determination and an industrious spirit. She will be remembered dearly and missed by all.
She was a communicant of St. Malachy's Church in Sherburne.
Surviving are her husband of 60 years, Richard, and her children; Deborah Seward of Kentucky, Robert Purdy of Albany, James Purdy of Massachussetts, William Purdy of Hamilton, Denise Campbell of Massachussetts, Michael Purdy of Sherburne, Daniel Purdy of Sherburne and Catherine Schwarting of Smyrna,  as well as Peter Madjar of California and a brother, Clifford Morgan of Florida. Celeste had 21 grandchildren and in 2009, she was proud to become a great grandmother as well. Celeste is pre-deceased by her eldest son Richard Purdy and sister Claire Hale. 
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, followed by burial in St. Malachy‚s Cemetery, Sherburne. 
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.