Celine L. Gillibrand

...When sending flowers to the service, please have them delivered directly to the church: St. Rose of Lima Church, 1305 Royal Ave, Simi Valley, CA 93065

It is with profound sadness, that we announce the passing of Celine Louise Gillibrand, our loving and devoted sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, corporate leader, and friend to all whose lives she touched. Celine passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on the evening of Tuesday June 14, 2022, after a short illness. 

Celine was born on January 26, 1938, to Alexis and Violet Lapeyre in Oregon and raised in the Tierra Rejada Valley on her family’s ranch, which was settled by her Grandfather Jean Baptiste Lapeyre. She was the second of five girls in her family. Celine lived an adventurous life. Her adventures began early on at the family ranch. They included international experiences when her father took a job in Liberia, West Africa, building the Port of Monrovia and the Bomi Hills iron ore mine, which eventually led to her enrollment in boarding school at Saint Maur’s Catholic School in Weybridge, Surrey, England. After a few years at boarding school Celine returned home to Ventura County and finished her schooling at Saint Catherine’s All-Girls school. During that time, at a school dance, Celine met her future husband, Phillip Walton Gillibrand. It was in 1956 that their life together began. They started a family and a business at the same time; while he built the company, she took care of their home and family. Over the years, both the business and family grew. They had two daughters, Madeleine and Theresa. Celine enjoyed raising her two daughters and was actively involved with them in many 4H and equine events. As her children grew up, she became involved in many community organizations and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

In March 1999, Celine’s husband, Phillip Gillibrand, passed away. She then served as the Chief Executive Officer, and Chairwoman of the Board of P.W. Gillibrand Co., Inc. Celine devoted 21 years to the company as CEO. She will be remembered for her tireless efforts to make the company successful. During her tenure as CEO, the company prospered and grew through three acquisitions. 

Celine was known by many names: Grammy, Grandma, Grandma GG, Mother, Billie, and Mrs. G.

Celine was always active and up for doing pretty much anything with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, going to sports games, joining them on vacations, and taking them individually on special trips. They all were truly the light of her life.

Celine is preceded in death by her parents, Alexis and Violet Lapeyre, her oldest sister Jeanne Canty, and her husband, Phillip Walton Gillibrand. She is survived by her sisters: Marianne Schaffer, Madeline Lapeyre, and Carol Montrose, her two daughters: Madeleine and Theresa Gillibrand, her six grandchildren: Brandon Theising, Courtney Dantona, Amanda Eckles, Vanesa Eckles, Jack Burns, and Sophia Gillibrand Nasser and her seven Great Grandchildren: Phillip Theising, Benjamin Theising, Alex Theising, Rocco Dantona, Ralph Theising, Alice Dantona, Jett Kipling and her beloved friend Iris Ventura.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.   A reception will follow at Wood Ranch Golf Club at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to one of her favorite charity’s: The American Cancer Society at https://donate3.cancer.org/, St. Jude Memorial Foundation at https://www.stjude.org/, or a Charity of your choice.

...Family in the care of Erin Arteaga, Funeral Director