Celestina's Story

It’s 1992 and the Ellis Island Museum has been open for two years. Celestina, a retired nurse, is surprised to receive an invitation to give a brief oral history about her years living and working at Ellis Island Hospital. After her interview session is recorded, memories of caring for patients during the Great Depression and World War II come flooding to the surface. Her daughter Helena realizes this is only the tip of the iceberg and encourages her mother to continue recording her story. Celestina agrees and begins telling about the many challenges she faced as an immigrant transitioning from a young village girl to a confident nurse. As she retells her story, Celestina begins to wonder what challenges her patients faced after they were discharged from her care. A visit to the Ellis Island Museum library that summer unlocks answers for her.