Obituary of Celia Panella

Celia died peacefully under Hospice and family care. She was a creative person with a talent for painting, sculpture and clothing design. While in high school she designed and made original hats and dresses. With skills inherited from her Italian grandmother, and with her trusty Singer, Celia could turn out dresses, purses, belts and jewelry, anything held together with needle, thread, and a pair of pliers. After attending The Fashion Institute of Technology she went to work in the garment industry. In the 1960's she opened the Odyssey Shop in New Windsor New York, a store that specialized in limited issue clothing for women. At the same time she opened a design business in New York's Garment Center called Panella Designs, which specialized in women's belts. Celia made her belts made from a variety of materials, including multi-colored horse hide, and her designs captured the sensibility of the 1960's. Later in life she worked as a real estate broker for Allpan Realty in New Windsor, New York. Celia was predeceased by a daughter, Celia Barone, and is survived by her devoted daughter Dominique Barone, a brother Vincent Panella, and sisters Patricia Panella and Grace Panella. A private celebration of her life will be held by the family in the summer of 2026.