ESTHER BERNICE AULENBACK

1925 - 2021

AULENBACK, Esther Bernice (Gaetz) Entered into rest December 3, 2021. Of West Roxbury, formerly of Allston, MA, and Grand Desert, Nova Scotia, Canada. Esther was born December 25, 1925, a "Christmas baby" to Viola and Clifford Gaetz, who supported their large family as a fisherman. Beloved wife of the late Fred Aulenback. Loving and devoted mother to her three daughters, Luanne Dickey and her husband John of Arcadia, CA, Cindy Roche and her husband Edward of North Easton, and Laurie Lucas and her husband Charles of West Roxbury. "Nana" to her grandchildren, Matthew, Jacqueline, Gregory and Marissa. Esther is survived by her sister, Golda of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was predeceased by her sisters, Lena, Vera, Della and Marjorie May; and brothers, Lawson, Calvin, Farrell, Perry and Dean Gaetz. Growing up in rural Chezzetcook County during the Depression, Esther's family home had neither electricity nor indoor plumbing. At a young age, Esther was raised to appreciate the value of hard work and acquired the skills to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. At 14, along with the local children of Grand Desert, Esther was rounded up by pickup truck to work in the clam factory to shuck clams for pennies to contribute to the household. After completing 8th grade at St. Mary's, the only schoolhouse of Chezzetcook taught by the sisters of St. Joseph, Esther was on her own. At age 15, she was hired as a live in housekeeper (a job she acquired from her elder sister Lena, after the employer asked their mother if she had any more daughters), then on to clerical work at Imperial Oil. In 1952, traveling by train, she joined her then fiancé Fred to immigrate to "the States". Her one steamer trunk contained all her worldly possessions including a set of china dishes she purchased piece by piece with her earnings from Imperial Oil. Settling in Allston, she enjoyed domestic life, cooking, sewing, walking down "the Ave", gardening and traveling "back home" to Canada with her young family. Esther became an American citizen in the early 60's. In 1972, after the death of her husband which left her with three teenage girls, she answered an ad in the local newspaper to read to an elderly blind woman, "Aunt Alice" of Brookline. Upon Aunt Alice's death, Esther stayed employed as a housekeeper for 20 years for Alice's extended family. Esther soon sought full time employment from the City of Boston's Social Service agency (APAC), and was hired as a full-time cafeteria worker in Boston Public Schools and subsequently as a food server in the Executive Dining Room of New England Life (now Met. Life) until her retirement at age 65. To earn extra money at NEL, Esther laundered, starched and ironed linen napkins over the weekend for the Executive Dining Room along with her Saturday housekeeping job. She was a nurturing mother always thinking of her daughters and generously giving them what she was able to. All three grateful girls received Baccalaureate degrees from college, with Esther assisting financially as best she could. Esther also "looked in on" elderly neighbors in Allston, including Marty next door who relied on Esther for daily meals and housekeeping. Having never driven a car, Esther walked or took the MBTA everywhere. In 1996, Esther relocated to West Roxbury. She took trips with her friend Rita to Florida, Hawaii and Europe, as well as the St. Theresa's retirees. Esther also frequently visited her daughter in California and family in Canada. She was known throughout the family as the "one with the positive attitude," with an inherent mindset to save for hard times and to always look ahead, never back. Esther never complained, even when faced with advanced COPD, which for the last 8 years required around the clock oxygen. With the assistance of her daughters, Esther remained in her home with dignity, insisting on doing what she could for herself to stay home, her most comfortable and familiar setting. Heartfelt special thanks to the medical team from Harvard Vanguard, the VNA nurses, and Ethos of Jamaica Plain for providing home care and support services. Funeral Services will be on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 11:00 am at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 21 Stratford St., West Roxbury, MA 02132. Graveside Service will be held at Mount Auburn Cemetery.