Hurricane Ian came in after the manner of large hurricanes, unpredictable and surprising. Day by day we watched the new tracks until it was clear, we are in for a big blow and a lot of rain! We left our home in Josh’s capable hands, skipping a flight out and choosing the confidence of driving.
What got us going out of our area ahead of the storm was the passing of another wind, a light spirit with the name of Esther, Rochelle’s mom. After 99 years, she had passed peacefully in her bed, wafted away by the Spirit calling her home.
And that gentle event introduced another storm, as many of you know well with the passing of a loved one: plans and more plans and changes to plans, details to work out, many many people to connect with, more details to set up and all the other work that goes into arranging a funeral a few states away.
We left on Tuesday morning and got up to Levittown, PA on Wednesday evening in time for the viewing. The next day we had the funeral in the morning, and the burial in the afternoon, a couple of hours more drive upstate.
We have so much joy and hope in the Lord, that His mercy was with Esther, one who feared Him, trusting in His salvation! She loved music, and loved to sing. Perhaps her favorite hymn was “I Come to the Garden,” which was sung in her memory.
We were really blessed to have several more people join us than we expected, through the news being shared by friends, on Facebook, and the obituary printed in the local paper. We enjoyed seeing relatives and dear friends of ours in the area.
We drove back from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, and when we got back there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and all was well here. There was damage and high water around our home. We were spared, and we’re looking for ways to help others.
Thanks so much for all your prayers for us! We’ve copied Esther’s obituary below. [Family names and location details removed for security.]
Esther, of Orlando, FL, died peacefully early Tuesday morning, September 20, 2022, passing into the arms of Jesus. She was 99 years old.
Born and raised in south of the Pocono Mountains, she was a 1941 graduate of her local High School, and later from Strayer Business College. She passed her civil service examination after high school and relocated to Washington, DC where she worked as a secretary for the Army/Air Corps. Esther was proud that her department was the very first to begin working in the newly constructed Pentagon building during World War II.
Esther returned to PA and met Peter from England while working at a resort in the Pocono Mountains. They married and later moved to near Philadelphia where she raised her family and resided for 50 years before moving to Orlando. She was a member of the former Christ Lutheran Church and involved in Eastern Star.
Until her retirement in 1988, she worked as a customer service representative for Fidelity Bank for over 20 years.
Wife of the Peter for over 50 years, she is survived by two daughters, Rochelle and Cheryl, and her son-in-law, Steven.
She was the loving grandmother of 4 grandkids:Andrew and wife, Ryoko; Benjamin and wife, Quinn; Melissa and husband, Benjamin; and Joshua. She was the great grandmother of Erin and Leon, Roman, and Aira. She was the loving aunt of Sherwood and June, and Brenda and Lowell.
Relatives and friends attended her viewing Wednesday, September 28, 2022 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM and her funeral Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 9:30 to 11AM at the Beck-Givnish Life Celebration Home. An interment ceremony was also held at 2:30PM that day at her local cemetery in the Pocono Mountains at 2:30 PM.
Family and friends are invited to attend her Memorial Celebration in Orlando, FL on Sunday, October 9, 2022 from 2:00 to 4:00PM at the Encore at Avalon Park facility’s 1st floor auditorium. A service will be held from 2:30 to 3:00PM followed by time for visiting and refreshments.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Esther’s name can be made to either Critter Care Adoptions (crittercareadoptions.org) or to Cru, a ministry bringing the Gospel of Christ to a needy world (give.cru.org/0257817).