Avon, New York: At age 94, Esther passed away on September 21, 2020. She was born on February 14, 1926 in Orangeville, New York to the late Chrysostum V and Mary (George) Romasser. In addition to her parents she was also predeceased by her husband Gerald J. D’Angelo and her siblings: Cleutherius Romasser, Louis Romasser, and Marie Burton. Esther is survived by children: Linda (Alan Scarsella) Higby of San Antonio, TX, Gerald (Laura) D’Angelo of Livonia and Steven D’Angelo of Avon; grandchildren: Karen (Michael) Thomann and Erica D’Angelo; nieces: Suzy Beyer and Jeanne Rittenhouse; a great niece and nephew and two spunky great grandchildren.
As a young girl, Esther joined the United States Army and became a Registered Nurse during WWII, having received a calling to become a nurse. She served in the European Theatre at the end of the war, alongside her brother Louis. Her long nursing career led her to treat patients during earlier pandemics, including tuberculosis and polio, as she practiced nursing in Livingston County, Rosewell Park, Buffalo Children’s Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital and private practice duty. Esther later retired as the charge nurse of the Livingston County Skilled Nursing Facility. She proudly served her country and community for over 40 years, touching many lives.
Our loving Mother Esther lived a long-life overflowing with goodness and grace. A rural “old school” country girl who grew up during the Great Depression, she felt honored to become a US Army Cadet Nurse during tough times when women had few professional options. She was an exemplary nurse who proudly served her patients unconditionally with tenderness and compassion. Their pain was her pain.
A busy professional career matched perfectly with Esther’s desires to also serve her family of three children. Her home was the stage for loveliness and feminine beauty. She loved animals (especially dogs and birds) and her treasured curio collections of art and wildlife created fascinating spaces for reflection and interesting observation. She learned the needle arts, and became an especially avid knitter as a very young girl by exchanging babysitting services for needle classes. This became a life-long passion as she knitted hundreds of mittens, booties, blankets and sweaters for the homeless, Native American Indian children, hospital patients and countless fundraisers. In the same fashion, Esther became a fabulous piano player. Her melodic piano sounds of Debussy’s Clair de Lune, a loved favorite, filled the home daily. Our Mother enjoyed decades of porch sitting with friends and neighbors. She loved children and babies and was called “Mom” by everyone. She loved gardening and the healing power of flowers. Her home life was the complete expression of the person who graced its space.
A passion later in life included day tripping in pursuit of viewing baby eagles in their nests along the Oatka Creek Trail, the Finger Lakes and Letchworth State Park. She was always pursuing nature. Esther loved to travel and enjoyed road trips and country drives, always with “a good cup of coffee”.
She was a lifelong member of St Agnes Catholic Church, and served the Ladies Auxiliary, the Cub Scouts, PTA, The American Red Cross Blood Drive and supported numerous nursing organizations and countless community associations throughout her long, full and rewarding lifetime.
Esther’s family sends a special thank you to her many friends and neighbors and to the professionals that helped her in her later years, especially Ms Debbie Ferrante, Ms Cathy Davis, Ms Kathy Rudolph, Ms Lynn Swift and a host of caring nurses that comprised our “BAND OF ANGELS” and our rock. Their unbridled compassion, care and loving support for our Mother will never be forgotten. Esther always said, “All good nurses go to heaven”. We also thank Mike Dougherty and the Kevin Dougherty Funeral Home of Livonia, New York; their immediate response, trust, care and comfort given to our family and beloved Mother in our time of need was truly remarkable.
There will be no prior calling hours. Esther’s Funeral Mass will be conducted by Father Fowler at 2pm, Saturday, September 26th, at St Agnes Catholic Church, 96 Prospect St, Avon, NY. A reception will be held following mass at the Avon Inn, Main St, Avon. Graveside services following the reception will be held at the St Agnes Catholic Cemetery, officiated by family friend, Lutheran Pastor Mack Smith. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Agnes Catholic Church, 96 Prospect Street, Avon, NY 14414. To send a condolence or share a memory please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com
