06/16/2026
Celebrating Celeste M. McLaughlin - 1946-2026
Celeste Ester Monahan McLaughlin passed through the veil of death to eternal life on Saturday, June 6, in Houston, TX.
Celeste was born in September 17, 1946 in Sharon, CT to Ester Pollard and Thomas Monahan.
Celeste graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS and MS in Nursing. Celeste enjoyed an illustrative career in nursing. She was a Clinical Nurse Specialist and certified in both rehabilitation nursing and nursing administration. She worked at the UCONN Hospital in Farmington, CT in critical care and as a Director of Continuing Education of Nursing for UCONN School of Nursing. Prior to moving to Houston in 1990 with her beloved husband Jack McLaughlin, she lived in Somers, CT, Andover CT and Manchester, CT.
In Houston, TX, Celeste was a long-standing nursing leader at the Harris Health System. She served as the Director of Nursing for Quentin Mease Hospital (formerly Quentin Mease Community Hospital) until her retirement in 2014, and was recognized for her contributions to rehabilitation nursing and interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Celeste and Jack enjoyed various outdoor activities together including golfing, fishing and traveling, especially with their RV. Their love of travel took them “across the pond,” to Hawaii, Canada and other beautiful sites near and far that they could explore and enjoy with friends. In her quest for the “big catch” she went on a fishing excursion to British Columbia for the elusive cod.
Celeste was an avid student of history and theology, and she loved intertwining these disciplines to reflect on God’s movement in the world throughout the history of humanity. She served as a mentor for Education for Ministry (EFM) at her church, Emmanuel Episcopal in Houston, TX. She also served as a vestry member, co-coordinator of the Lord of the Streets Lunch Makers providing food for persons living on the streets of Houston, lay reader, and communion bread baker. She was a member the church’s weekly theological book group, most recently studying Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship, where she contributed greatly to the discussion. She was a faithful member of Emmanuel’s sewing ministry creating numerous prayer and graduation quilts for others. Celeste co-designed and made Emmanuel’s fourteen Stations of the Cross banners along with fellow Emmanuel quilters, Gloria Alvarez and Chris Friesen; and she was currently working on some new vestments for Emmanuel’s vergers.
Celeste was preceded in death by her parents, Ester Gurlay Pollard and Thomas C. Monahan; her husband John (Jack) McLaughlin; and her daughter Kim Hanson. She is survived by her sons: Ralph Everett Doyer, Michael Edward Doyer, granddaughter Ashley Doyer; her grandsons: Dustin Doyer and Kyle Doyer; sisters: Carol Pollard Carbonnell and Susan Nichols Chapin; nephews and nieces: Kevin Chapin, Brian Chapin, Elise Carbonnell and Alexander Carbonnell.
A celebration of Celeste’s life will be held Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 11:00am at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 3785 Barker Cypress Rd., Houston, TX 77084.
For those desiring, in lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations may be made in Celeste’s name to:
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 3785 Barker Cypress Rd., Houston, TX 77084
or
The Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church, PO Box 8448, Houston, TX 77288
