Martha Esser
February 03, 1915 - December 22, 2016
Obituary
MIDDLETON-Martha T. Esser, age 101, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at All Saints Assisted Living. She was born on February 3, 1915 in Middleton, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Bronner) Esser. She graduated from Middleton High School. Martha was employed with Wisconsin Telephone from January 1947 to 1980 (33 years). She started as a switchboard operator and retired as a personal secretary. Life after retirement was filled with volunteering at St. Mary's Hospital, providing rides for people going to doctor appointments, Meals on Wheels and playing euchre with friends and family. Martha was a very active member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She loved traveling, staying active and was always learning by taking classes. It was important to Martha to keep up with changing times and get involved. She is survived by her brother, Gilbert Esser; and many nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her sisters and brothers, Regina Anderson, Leo Esser, Joe Esser and Helen Annen. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7450 University Ave., Middleton, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016. Burial will be at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Ashton. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday. The family would like to thank the caring people at All Saints Assisted Living and Agrace HospiceCare for their wonderful care of Martha. Memorials in Martha's name may be gifted to Agrace HospiceCare. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Avenue
(608)831-6761
Events
Visitation
Wed Dec 28, 2016 @ 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
St. Bernards Catholic Church (Middleton) • 2015 Parmenter St., Middleton, WI
Mass of Christian Burial
Wed Dec 28, 2016 @ 11:00 AM CDT
St. Bernards Catholic Church (Middleton) • 2015 Parmenter St., Middleton, WI
Photos
No photos of Martha have been shared yet.
Memories
MG
Mary Grinsteiner
Other •
Martha was my first cousin; her mother and my mother were sisters. Martha often told me a story relating to my birth. In those days, teenage daughters would be sent to the home of an aunt to help at the time of a birth. She was 16 when she was sent to my mom and dad's home when I was born. The "helper" would do housework to give the new mother time to recover from childbirth. I am age 85 as I write this and feel by Martha living to age 101, I have been blessed to have had her alive these many years to tell me the story of my birth. I doubt if many people in their eighties had someone living to remember their birth! I last visited her the fall of 2015 and she greeted me as usual by reminiscing about my birth -- what a fond memory for me.