Esther C. Hennessy

FARMINGTON -- Esther C. Hennessy, 90, of Farmington, formerly of Saco, went home to be with the Lord on May 3, 2006, early Wednesday morning at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

She was born on Aug. 30, 1915, in Saco, the daughter of Orrin and Julia (McEnery) McCone. She attended Saco schools, graduating from Thornton Academy in 1936.

On June 21, 1941, she married Charles E. Hennessy Sr. at Most Holy Trinity Church in Saco. They made their home there for the next 32 years, having two children, Charles Jr. and Julia.

Esther worked for many years in the Biddeford and Saco area as a practical nurse, private care nurse, and geriatric nurses' aid at the Trull and Saco Osteopathic Hospitals, for the Hewes and Attkinson families, and at the Wardwell Home, St. Andre's Nursing Home and Evergreen Manor, where she retired from at the age of 72. She took pride in her work as a care attendant.

After retiring, Esther moved to Farmington to be closer to her daughter. She resided at Deer Crossing Apartments for 17 years before moving to Orchard Park Living Center in June of 2005. She leaves many dear friends at both places.

Esther's faith was a very important part of her life. She was a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church in Saco and later at St. Joseph's Church in Farmington.

Esther enjoyed playing bingo, visiting with her friends and being a mom. She was known lovingly as "Ma" by many of her daughter's friends.

She is survived by a son, Charles Hennessy of Saco; daughter Julia Hennessy of Farmington and grandson Donald Hennessy of Saco; several McEnery family cousins; niece, Barbara Kerry of Saco; sister-in-law, Carolyn Hennessy of North Quincy, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews from her husband's family in the Boston area.

Esther was predeceased by her husband, Charles, in 1973; her parents; a brother, Donald McCone; and sister, Elizabeth McCone Cote.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, May 8, from St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Middle Street, Farmington. Family and friends are invited to call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday afternoon and evening, at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road (Routes 2 and 27), Farmington. Following Mass, all are welcome to attend a family reception at the Parish Hall, hosted by the Altar Guild.

Committal services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon from St. Mary's Cemetery, Biddeford.

Those who desire may give gifts in her memory to the Orchard Park Resident Activity Fund, 107 Orchard St., Farmington, ME 04938.

On-line condolences may be sent to wilesfuneralhomes@verizon.net