Esther Walanka

December 29th, 2023

I met Esther at work in 1944. We worked for the government in Chicago.
On nice days, we would bring our sandwiches outside at lunchtime.
I have good memories of Esther and I sitting on the grass on Michigan Ave and
eating lunch!

lunch..

..

~Eileen Woodhouse
~Friend,

December 18th, 2023

Aunt Esther was my treasured Great-Aunt. As long as I can remember, I loved when she came to visit my grandparents, Rose and Jack Adel, and she always sat with me and asked me questions, conversing with me and making me feel like I mattered and was seen amidst the bustle of family gatherings. As I grew older, she became a trusted confidant, and I loved when she and Uncle Morty would come to visit San Francisco while I was living there – we would meet for dinner and talk for hours. When my Bubby Rose passed away in 1997, my mom (Idee) told Aunt Esther that she wouldn’t know who to call every night as she had called Rose every single night for years and years. Aunt Esther said that my mom could call her, and they became very close. After my mom passed away in 2012, I made certain that the connection to Aunt Esther was not lost. I traveled to the midwest once or twice a year for work, and would fly through Chicago, rent a car, and go see Aunt Esther. We loved to go to The Bagel and would sit and talk for hours, then I would be on my way, but not without her always buying me my favorite chocolate rugalach from the baker there. Her ability to master technology was amazing – we would text often and check on each other. During the pandemic, when I couldn’t travel to see her, it was very difficult, so as soon as it was ok to travel again, I made a trip especially to see her as it had been so long – she was 99 at the time and I tried to take every opportunity to see her, never knowing when I may not have the gift of her presence again. My last visit was in April of this year, and it was the first time I noticed her cognitive decline – to be as sharp and engaged and current as she was until then had always amazed me. I love you very much, Aunt Esther, and I am so happy you are now with Uncle Morty, Rose, Jack, Pearl and Mel , and my mom, Idee. Rest in peace and your memory will always be a blessing to me.

~Staci Garrison
~Great-niece, Snohomish, WA

December 17th, 2023

I remember Esther as a lovely, beautiful, and fun-loving mother, grandmother and great -grandmother who was her family’s biggest fan and supporter in all their endeavors.

~Christine Smith
~Friend, Aurora, CO