Andrea Lenore Kessler

Andrea Lenore Kessler, 57, died peacefully on Thursday, March 31, 2016 with her family members by her side. Born in Miami, she was raised in Plantation and graduated from Plantation High School in 1976. She attended the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor's of Arts Degree. She then attended Nova University Law Center where she received a Juris Doctorate in 1984. She was a Senior Partner at the Fort Lauderdale Law Firm of Catri, Holton, Kessler & Kessler, P.A. where she was partners with her two sisters, Paula and Edwina. Her legal career also included working with her father, Charles Thomas Kessler. She was very active in The Florida Bar and Broward County Bar Association. She was a member on several committees of The Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Section. In 2016 she received the Broward County Bar Association President's Award and was Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Co-Chair of the Probate Committee. In 2010 through 2011 she was the President of the Estate Planning Counsel of Broward County. In addition to practicing civil litigation defense and probate she was an Arbitrator, Guardian Ad Litem and Mediator. A juvenile diabetic for 25 years, in June of 1990 she was the first simultaneous kidney and pancreas organ recipient at the University of Miami after which she was no longer a diabetic. She was very active in philanthropic organizations, including the Organ Procurement Medical Advisory Board, a past Board member of the Transplant Foundation Inc. in Miami, a past Board of Director of South Florida National Kidney Foundation and the American Diabetes Association of Florida Affiliated. Through her medical and physical challenges she always showed courage, strength, humor and was an inspiration to others. By her side and always supporting her was her husband of 27 years, Thomas Jordan. Andrea and Thomas enjoyed traveling and her love of western horseback riding took them to several dude ranches in the United States and Canada. They resided in Fort Lauderdale with their dog, Lucia. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Jordan of Fort Lauderdale, her mother, Eleanor Kessler of Fort Lauderdale, her two sisters, Paula Kessler (Kenneth Cooper) of Fort Lauderdale, and Edwina Kessler of Oakland Park, Florida and numerous nephews and nieces. She is pre-deceased by her father, Charles Thomas Kessler. A viewing will be held at Fred Hunter Funeral Home, 718 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. The funeral will be Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 901 NE 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida with an internment to follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Transplant Foundation, Inc., 9155 Dadeland Blvd, Suite 1506, Miami FL 33156.