Celeste Ray Goldhammer, a long-time Denver resident who later lived in Bellevue, Wash., passed away July 8, 2011, in Alexandria, Va. She was 69.
Rabbi Kenneth Block officiated at the July 11 graveside service at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, Va. Torchinsky Hebrew Funeral Home made the arrangements.
Celeste greatly enjoyed family, friends, music, food and travel, the family said. She always had a beautiful smile and a warm welcome for everyone
Celeste Ray was born Feb. 16, 1942, in Denver to the late Joseph Ray and Charlotte Zaler Ray. She grew up on Denvers West Side, attending Cheltenham Elementary, Lake Junior and North High, and graduated from CU.
She married Eugene Goldhammer on Jan. 29, 1974, in Denver.
Mrs. Goldhammer worked in insurance, music and office products.
In 1993, she moved to Bellevue, Wash. Upon her retirement in 2003, Mrs. Goldhammer and her husband relocated to Las Vegas and then to Green Valley and Mesa, Ariz.
A lifetime member of Hadassah, she belonged to Naamat, Jewish Women International and JNF.
Mrs. Goldhammer belonged to BMH-BJ in Denver, Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville, Wash., and was active in Chabad of Mesa Arizona.
She conducted genealogical research into the Ray and Zaler families, who came from Poland and Russia.
Mrs. Goldhammer is survived by her husband Eugene Goldhammer of Mesa, Ariz.; daughter Arielle (Doug) Pecht of Alexandria, Va.; grandson Gabriel; sister Marcia Soloff of Kent, Conn.; and stepbrother Gary Oxman of Denver.
Contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association.
Copyright © 2011 by the Intermountain Jewish News
