Mary “Celestine” Tabler

Mary Celestine Tabler, age 86, of Nashport, Ohio went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 11, 2025. She passed away after a brief illness and was surrounded by her loving family. All of her family and friends lovingly knew her as Celestine. Celestine was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, who always put her family first.

Celestine was born in Lancaster, Ohio on June 19, 1938, to the late Norman S. and Catherine M. Tibbs. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School, as class valedictorian in 1957. Following graduation, she attended Good Samaritan Nursing School in Zanesville, Ohio. Upon completion of nursing school, she began working as a Registered Nurse at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Zanesville, Ohio. During her nursing career she worked in the nursery, infection control, and labor and delivery and retired after 40 years of service. She was the first coordinator of infection control at Good Samaritan Medical Center and during her many years working in labor and delivery she showed compassion and love to countless mothers as she supported them during the labor and delivery process. In addition to her work, Celestine loved to garden, play her organ, crochet, and research her family ancestry.

While attending nursing school, Celestine met and later married the love of her life, Richard D. Tabler on May 30, 1958, and they enjoyed 64 years of marriage together. Celestine was a dedicated wife and compassionate caregiver to Richard until his death in 2022. Celestine will always be remembered for her strong faith and genuinely loving and welcoming nature to all those she met. As the matriarch of the family, she provided a strong example of love and support to her family through both life’s challenges and blessings. Her children and family are left with the knowledge that the love they received from Celestine was indeed God’s love working through her.

Celestine was a dedicated member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, where she assisted on the Ushers Board and attended weekly service and Bible study. She loved her church family dearly.

Celestine was preceded in death by her parents, Norman S. and Catherine W. Shute, her husband, Richard D. Tabler, siblings Norman H. Tibbs and Catherine M. Shute, sons Jonathan T. Tabler and Richard J. Tabler and granddaughter, Jennifer Woodson Ward.

She is survived by her children, Teena Ward, Martin (Lisa) Tabler, Cynthia Price, and Gina (Jeff) Hardin, and grandchildren, Charli (Jay) Wilson, Joseph (Me’-Linh Gunther) Tabler, Elizabeth Tabler, Jessica Tabler, Brittany Price, Vanessa (Delmas) Miller, and Whitney (Ryan Smith) Hardin. She is also survived by many great grandchildren, Aiden Tabler, Aubrey Sweeney, Egypt Lunsford, Legend Woods, Lux Barkley, Naomi Miller, Delmas Miller Jr., Mercy Smith, Atlas Wilson and Ocean Wilson. Celestine is also survived by sister-in-law JoEllen Mayle and countless nieces and nephews.

You may call on the family on Monday, April 21, 2025, at Burrell Funeral Services, 414 LaSalle St. Zanesville Ohio 43701 from 4pm until 6pm and again on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 10am until 11am at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 536 Moxahala Ave. Zanesville Ohio 43701 with funeral services starting at 11am. Burial will take place in Irville Cemetery following funeral services. Pastor Keith A Wyatt will be officiating. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Burrell Funeral Services of Zanesville, Ohio. Cards and flowers can be sent to Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.