Judith Ann Esterling

Judith Ann Hinkle Esterling, 80 of Wilmington passed away peacefully on September 24, 2024 surrounded by her family.
Judy was born in Wilmington, the daughter of the late Dorothea Mae (Palmer) and Louis J. Hinkle. She graduated from P.S. DuPont High School c/o 1962 and worked as a Nurse - LPN at Riverside Hospital. Judy also worked in the cafeteria at St. Elizabeth School and cooked for the Benedictine Sisters in the Convent. The most important thing to Judy was her family. She was a wonderfully devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and most recently, great-grand mother. Judy was very actively involved in her grand children's lives - from babysitting, attending their sporting and school events, to hosting fun sleep-overs at "Camp Judy's" her grandchildren were the apple of her eye. Her love for them was immense and that love was reciprocated a million times over. She loved to play games, especially Scrabble and Uno and was a fierce competitor! She was a talented artist and enjoyed ceramics and scrapbooking. She shared her talent by making beautiful cards for family and friends for holidays or just to let them know she was thinking of them. She enjoyed her iPad and always had it with her so she would never miss capturing that special picture. Her children and grandchildren would wake up to "good morning" texts everyday - her way of letting them know how much she loved them. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Louis Hinkle, Louise Rizzo, and Phyllis Episcopo.
Judy will be missed by her husband and true love of 62 years, George L. Esterling, Jr.; her daughter, Deborah Ann Malvestuto and her fiancé, Anthony DiMascio her sons, George L. Esterling, III and his wife Mary Ellen of Hockessin, and Thomas C. Esterling and his fiancé Denise Parks; her grandchildren, George L., IV, Tyler, Alexandra, Vincenzo, Anthony, Adrienne and Thomas Jr.; her great-grandson, Oliver Paul; her brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Jeffie Hinkle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 30, 2024 at the MEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 2509 Limestone Road at 11:30 AM. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 to 11:30 AM. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Judy's name to the Benedictine Sisters, 25 Gender Rd, Newark, DE 19713.