Born Aug. 4, 1892, in St. Joseph, Ky., Annie Merlin was the fourth child in a family of eight children to gladden the hearts of her parents, Clement and Eva Hayden Cecil. She attended St. Alphonsus Grade School and graduated from Mount Saint. Joseph Academy. At the age of 17 she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. On August 30, 1910, after a postulancy of 25 days, Merlin received the Ursuline habit and became known as Sister Celestine.
Sister Celestine began her apostolate of teaching at St. Edward School in Jeffersontown, Ky. Since there was no convent at Jeffersontown, the Sisters traveled by streetcar each morning from St. Angela Home in Louisville. In 1927, following an eight‑year assignment at St. Denis School in Shively, she was missioned for 33 years to schools in Nebraska: Bow Valley, Plattsmouth, and Nebraska City. Her name was a household word in many areas across the state. In addition to classroom teaching, Sister was church organist, responsible for school and adult choirs and the training of altar boys. Ever a successful teacher in general, Sister Celestine gave special encouragement to disadvantaged students, many of whom became influential business men and women. The kind of love and caring she had shown as teacher gave birth to a deep loyalty and lasting friendship in her students and their parents.
In 1960, Sister Celestine returned to Kentucky as classroom teacher at St. Peter of Alcantara School in Stanley for two years. She retired to Mount Saint Joseph in 1963 still actively interested in many things: her stamp collection, corresponding with students and friends, enjoying the company of her sister, Sister Alicia, her many nieces and nephews and their families. Sister suffered a stroke in November 1968. After several weeks in Mercy Hospital, she was brought back to the infirmary at Mount Saint Joseph. She died suddenly on February 19, 1969 ‑‑ Ash Wednesday. Msgr. Albert Thompson, Msgr. Edward Russell and Father Bernard Powers concelebrated the funeral Mass on February 21. Sister Celestine’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Alicia. Sister Mary Clement, her other Ursuline sister, preceded her in death.