Mary Esther Hosterman

Mary Esther Hosterman August 14, 1946 - January 20, 2007 Mary Esther Hosterman, of Pleasant Gap, succumbed to her 25-plus-year-battle with breast cancer on Jan. 20, 2007. Born August 14, 1946, in Bellefonte, she was the daughter of Grace M. Johnsonbaugh Hosterman and the late David E. Hosterman. She was a 1964 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School and a 1968 graduate of Penn State with a degree in English education. Along with her mother, she is survived by three brothers, David and his wife, Linda of Bellefonte, Clay and his wife, Pam, of Bellefonte and Dean and his wife, Pam, of Athens, Pa. In addition, she is survived by her eight nieces and nephews, whom she dearly loved. Miss Hosterman spent most of her life in the academic world, first doing economic research for the Equal Opportunity commission, Meals on Wheels and Self Help Housing. After the diagnosis of her cancer she became passionate about art, endeavoring determinedly to master clay and porcelain. While her eyes and the sensitivity in her fingers remained intact, she concentrated on small miniature creations, which she sometimes sold at the Arts Festival. Her final porcelain constructs were handmade porcelain objects with wheel-thrown add-ons. After the return of her cancer and through the years of chemotherapy, she maintained her part-time job in the University Libraries system, where she was touched by her colleagues' kindness and inspired by their obvious caring. She was always a curious teacher type and thoroughly enjoyed helping the Penn State students understand the myriad library resources. Several years ago, Mary received the Margaret Knoll Spangler Oliver Libraries Award and stipend for outstanding service and successful performance as an employee of the University Libraries. Mary felt very blessed with family and good friends. She shared her interests in hiking the Pennsylvania trails, especially during the mountain laurel and rhododendron blooming seasons. Spring was to be savored and she loved introducing friends to the spring wildflowers, especially the trillium, at Fisherman's Paradise. Mary's gardening skills were acquired by osmosis from her father. She was especially proud of her gourmet garlic and successful sweet potatoes. Her enduring interest in art was fed by attending classes at the Art Alliance in Lemont and attending clay demonstrations all over the East Coast. Mary took a particular interest in Penn State music students and attended many music performance events on campus. She remained incredulous about the number of interests the percussion majors had to master. She was delighted when there was a mallet performance. Mary will be missed by all the lives she touched. Burial will be private, at the convenience of the family. Arrangements for a memorial celebration are under the direction of Tom Osif of Pleasant Gap United Methodist Church, with the date to be determined later. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wetzler Funeral Service Inc., Bellefonte.