Esther Riva Hanauer

Boscawen, NH-Esther Riva (Ropeik) Hanauer, 94, passed away May 29 at Merrimack County Nursing Home after a brief illness.

Esther was born May 16, 1930 in Albany, NY to parents Edward and Sarah Ropeik. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her brother Bernie Ropeik, and husband of 68 years, Adam Hanauer.

Esther is survived by three children: Rachel Rainey and husband Michael Rainey; Julia Hanauer-Milne and husband Jonathan Milne; and son Seth Hanauer. She leaves two beloved grandchildren, Noah and Nathan Milne, her sister in-law Judith Gabbe, and nieces and nephews: Alice Seitlin and husband Jerry Seitlin; Edward Ropeik and wife Regina Ropeik; Laura Gabbe and husband Gerry Breen; David Gabbe and wife Leslie Feldman-Rumpler-Gabbe, along with grand- and great-grand nieces and a nephew.

Esther loved nature, tennis, reading, art, music (big band jazz and classical), and people. She was warm, friendly, and no one who met her remained a stranger for long.

During the Depression, Esther's family moved to Trenton, NJ where they opened a fabric store and tailoring business. Esther grew up there and graduated from Trenton High School, then New York University with a degree in physical education.

Esther taught phys ed and coached for six years until the birth of her eldest child. Later she taught pre-school and worked for Digital Equipment Corp.

For many years the family lived in Fair Lawn, NJ, then Stow, Mass., before settling in Milford, NH where Esther and Adam lived for 36 years. In 2012 they moved to Nashua, which was home until summer 2023.

An avid reader, Esther was a member of a book group and her local library. She was a lifelong subscriber to the New York Times, and stayed abreast of news and politics; at one time she volunteered for candidates and the League of Women voters. Esther was a wonderful seamstress who made clothes and many heirloom quilts. She played tennis until age 85.

Perhaps Esther's greatest gift is the love of nature she passed to her children. No flower was too plain for her to admire and exclaim over. She and Adam stopped mowing their lawn long before No-Mow May began to trend. Birds enjoyed their oasis and feeders.

A family memorial is planned for autumn. If you'd like to honor her life, make a donation to an environmental organization of your choice; leave part of your lawn un-mowed; support a liberal political organization, your local library, or local and national journalism. Play some tennis, paddle a canoe, or ride your bike down a bike path. Stop to look at all the birds and flowers.