Obituary of Cecelia Dean

Cecelia Dean, 98, passed away Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Center in Scotland, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, October 24 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yankton with Rev. Steve Weispfennig officiating. Visitations will be Monday, October 23 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory in Yankton and one prior to the service at the church. Interment will be Tuesday, October 24 at approximately 1:30 pm at the Menno Cemetery, Menno, SD. Condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Livestreaming of Cecelia’s services can be found at: https://my.gather.app/remember/cecelia-dean.

Cecelia Adele Fischer Dean was born on December 15, 1924, to Edward and Adelheid (Guericke) Fischer. She passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 98 years 10 months and 3 days at the Scotland Good Samaritan Home.

She was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Menno, SD.

She met Jesse Dean while she was working at the City Café in Freeman, SD. They married on June 2, 1944, in Menno, SD. After a few years of living in Freeman they moved to Pennsylvania where they operated Dean’s Service Station. They were blessed with 4 children.

Cecelia worked as a waitress at various cafés. She also worked at Erie Tech.

In later years she enjoyed playing cards with her siblings.

She was a faithful member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Very grateful to have shared her life are her sons: Richard and Dennis; 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; Sisters: Amanda Stewart, Arlene Wagner, Elsie Jensen, Adeline Hofer; brother Harold (Bev) Fischer; sister-in-law Iona Fischer; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jesse; twin sons Ronald and Donald, grandson Danny; her parents; sisters: Clara Ulmer, Dorothy Osborn, and Lorine Koerner; and brother Elmer Fischer.