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are managers sent a message saying that she passed. And when I tell you that text messaging at Blew up to marry, Smith says she worked on the floor with the nurse. Everyone loved her, she says. The woman was a strong as an ox and full of energy. You know, just hand on her hip, real loud. I'm here. But she was also the most helpful. She was a master, a lot of things, she says. The nurse was a dedicated professional and always helped others, she says. When the nurse became sick, quarantined at home, funny and goofy and hilarious. Just, Oh, God, I'm gonna miss her.

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Friends and co-workers are mourning the loss of a registered nurse at Research Medical Center. Colleagues said she died of COVID-19."Our managers sent a message saying she passed, and when I tell you that text messaging app blew up," said Timaira Smith, who worked with Celia Yap-Banago.Smith said she worked on the floor with Yap-Banago. She said everyone loved her. Smith said she was strong and full of energy."Sassy, you know? Just hand on her hip, real loud, I'm here. But she was also the most helpful. She was a master at a lot of things," Smith said.She said the nurse was a dedicated professional and always helped others. She said that when Yap-Banago became sick, she quarantined at home. It is unclear how or where she may have contracted the virus."She was just funny and goofy, and hilarious. God, I am going to miss her," Smith said.Friends and nurses plan to hold a vigil to honor Yap-Banago Thursday at 8 p.m. on the sidewalk outside Research Medical Center. "We are heartbroken by the passing of our colleague, Celia Yap-Banago, a nearly-40-year nursing veteran at Research Medical Center," said Ashley McClellan, Research Medical Center chief executive officer. "It is difficult to put into words what Celia means to our hospital and to the countless number of patients she cared for."Celia was beloved by everyone who knew her. Her impact on the nursing profession and to those she worked, with will be everlasting due to the mentorship, training, support and guidance she provided our colleagues."We offer our deepest sympathies to her family and friends, and all who she blessed along the way. We are reminded of the courage she and our nursing family exhibit every day."