Esther Irene Pendleton

long time resident of Leominster

LEOMINSTER -- Esther Irene Pendleton, long time resident of Leominster, Massachusetts and member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, died peacefully on November 15, 2012 of a sudden illness.

Born in Brooklyn, Queen's County, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1926 to Eunice Stacey and Edwin Hawkins, Mrs. Pendleton grew up simply with her four brothers, enjoying a rural life by the ocean. She was a Girl Guide, the Canadian equivalent of Girl Scout, and an active member of the Church of England choir and congregation.

When Mrs. Pendleton was 16, she and her family immigrated to the United States where they settled in Fitchburg, MA. There, she continued her devotion to her faith as a member of Christ Church. After high school, she worked at W.T Grant and Woolworth's department stores.

In 1952, Mrs. Pendleton met her brother Edwin's close friend, and her future husband, Harlow during a church trip. Following a short courtship, she married "the love of her life" in June of 1953, and moved to Attleboro, MA to start a family. In 1954, Mrs. Pendleton became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Mrs. Pendleton and her husband raised two children, Karen Louise and Thomas Jeffery, living for a time in East Longmeadow, MA and Gambier, OH before returning to Massachusetts to live in Longmeadow. After her children left for college and set out on their own, Mrs. Pendleton and her husband came back to live in Leominster in 1976.

During her life, Mrs. Pendleton used her love of mathematics in a variety of bookkeeping positions for local small businesses when the hard work of raising a family allowed. Her family's summers were spent enjoying time by the ocean in Nova Scotia, where she maintained close relationships with relatives and lifelong friends. An avid mystery novel fan, she read every day, enjoying crossword, jigsaw and all forms of brainteaser puzzles. And, of course, she never missed a Red Sox game.

Her son, Thomas, her son's wife Suzanne, and their children Maxwell and Grace survive Mrs. Pendleton. She is also survived by three of her brothers, Robert, Edwin and Philip, along with their families and many other close relatives and friends.

PENDLETON -- There will be a private family service with no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark's Memorial Fund, 60 West Street, Leominster, MA 01453 or please call (978) 537-3560.

The Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. www.richardsonfuneralhome.net