Janet Celentano, 87

Janet Louise Celentano was born April 14, 1938, to Stewart and Alta (Wathen) Kelso in San Jose, Calif. She passed peacefully on the morning of March 3, 2026. Her parents were Salvation Army officers and they traveled extensively throughout Janet's younger years. After her birth, they served in Eureka, Santa Rosa and San Miguel, all in California. Her first memories, at 3 years of age, were the times in San Miguel when she fell in love with a big, fat kitty cat. Her parents were in charge of the United Service Organizations serving at Hunter Liggett Military Base, where young men were being trained for World War II. After the war, they served in Hawaii and then Los Angeles. They were transferred to San Francisco, where Janet grew up. She developed a love for singing in the Salvation Army in a group called the Trebletones. During her high school years, she excelled in her class and received the Bank of America Scholarship Award. She was Vice President of the Student Body during her senior year. She met her now husband, Louis Celentano, that year, and they were later married. They moved to Campbell, Calif., from South San Francisco in 1967.

She gave birth to three great children, David, Anthony and Lisa Marie. After the children were grown, she pursued her passion for singing by joining the Sweet Adelines and remaining with them for several years. In 2017, the family moved to Post Falls, Idaho, to be close to David Celentano and his wife, Sharon, and their children, Christopher and Shannon. Anthony remained in San Jose with his wife, Pier Angeli, and their two children, Luca and Lorenzo. Janet's first job was in secretarial work, and she continued in that role as co-owner of Western Appraisers of San Jose with her husband, Louis, for 36 years. They retired in 2006 and did some traveling before settling in Post Falls, Idaho. She so loved her family and told them so quite often.

Janet is survived by her husband, Louis, after 68 years together; sons David and his wife, Sharon, Anthony and his wife, Pier; and daughter Lisa Marie; grandchildren Luca and Lorenzo, Christopher and Shannon; and great-grandchildren Piper, Maddie and Amelia Celentano; and an older sister, Dorothy and her husband, Edward. 

Memorial service will be Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 1 p.m., at Yates Funeral Home at 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls, Idaho. Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Home. Online registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.