Esther C. Myers

Esther C. Myers, daughter of William and Bertha Drilling Myers was born in Waucoma, IA on July 7, 1924.  She died in Dubuque at ManorCare on May 22, 2021.

Esther was a dedicated and excellent teacher; first for 27 years in Illinois, Iowa and Arizona while she was a Sister of Charity, BVM.  She moved to Florida in 1970 when she left the BVMs and continued to teach and live for 33 years. In Deltona and New Port Richey, Esther enjoyed life with longtime friend, Elinor Danglise.  These two teachers traveled and experienced diversity during the summers touring coast to coast sites, as well as Alaska and Hawaii.  Esther always brought back new ideas for her 5th and 6th grade Social Studies classes.   She was a steadfast teacher who received a Perfect Attendance Award for never missing a day of teaching while in Florida. 

Included in Esther’s travels were visits at summer family reunions which she loved.  Here she could engage with her growing family and catch up on graduations, weddings and births which she carefully logged in her date books.  She also stopped to visit family on her route to Iowa and always, always welcomed her family members to her home in Florida.  Some of Esther’s best stories was the telling of these family visits, as well as the many winters, our mother escaped the Iowa cold for several months reprieve in the Florida sunshine. 

Several high points of Esther’s life must include the celebration of her 80th birthday in Florida with all of her eight sisters and two sisters-in-law.  The ten sisters descended on her New Port Richey home for several festive days of celebration.    At Esther’s 90th birthday in 2014, some of her sisters, nieces and nephews gathered with their children/grandchildren to surprise her.  We all loved our time together.

Esther was ready for a different way of life closer to her family.  Thus began a new chapter for her in 2015 in Dubuque.  Esther delighted in celebrating the baptisms, first communions and special events, as well as being present for wakes and funerals of her aging family members.  She often talked of living beyond the age of any other Myers/Drilling.   On May 14, 2021, Esther exclaimed at a visit with Gail and her sisters.  “Mom would have been 121 years old yesterday!   Do you think I will live that long?”   

Esther started Hospice on Jan 14, 2021.  She gladly accepted the extra care which was given to keep her comfortable.  The COVID pandemic prohibited visits from family which had kept her engaged with life.  Window-visits were started and she brightened up seeing each face.  One of the last happiest times was seeing Magdalen and her daughters.   The last month allowed twenty-minute visits with family inside.  Lots of nieces, nephews and their children came. These enlivened Esther a great deal. Hearing became a big issue and gradually eating diminished, sleeping increased.  Esther was ready to go to God and her other siblings.  She slipped away peacefully, like she lived.

Esther was predeceased by her parents, William and Bertha, sisters Mary DeSloover (Bernard), Betty Sieverding (Tony), Frances Kress (Paul) and two brothers, Leonard Myers (Alice Elsbernd) and Albert Myers (Marlene Klopp). 

She is survived by sisters, Magdalen Wieling (Ralph) and Dorothy Cotant (Jim), Dee Myers, BVM, Marilyn Hoffmann (Carl) and Elaine Hill, many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, as well as great-great nieces and nephews.

Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of cremation.   A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at a future date as well as interment. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.