Esther Blasl

Esther will be remembered as loving to sew, trying new recipes, and loving her cats.

She was my daily email buddy. I will miss her. I always new what the weather was like in Fargo. The bunnies and birds will also miss her.

She has had wonderful neighbors who have looked out for her. Thank you!!

I am the daughter of one of her first cousins.

Esther was a wonderful neighbor and friend for over 30 years. She was an icon in our neighborhood. Her personality could be  defined using the words “independent” and “intelligent.” She thought of ways to meet her personal needs when driving her car was no longer an option.  I think she embraced the obstacle and felt success upon overcoming it!  In the summer I could hear the unique “whir” of her electric mower which helped me keep on eye (or ear) on her from my deck. She would use her mower as a walker to mow her lawn. It took two days:  1 day for the front yard and 1 day for the backyard. Regarding conversation: Talking about recipes, gardens, food, and animals were popular topics. She liked crossword puzzles and occasionally asked for help. One Christmas I gave her a subscription to the magazine Guideposts, a magazine of inspirational stories. After saying thank you she asked, “Does it have recipes?” I smiled and said, “Yes in the back!”😀 One Christmas she made a candy called Penuche which she said her family made frequently in the 1930s. Regarding animals: Esther was an owner of several cats over the years which gave her joy and comfort. She fed the squirrels and rabbits by her porch steps. I would tease her by saying, “That’s fine,  but keep those rabbits in your yard!”😀 She seldom left her house but last summer I was alarmed as I saw her with her walker on the sidewalk near our house. She was carrying a plastic bag. I immediately went outside to meet her and with a pained look she said she was looking for an injured rabbit. I convinced her that we need to let Mother Nature run its natural course. She reluctantly agreed and sadly returned home. 

As my sister told me, “It’s emotionally important to have multi-generations in our lives – in part to help us acknowledge the phases of life. Our mother always brought older people into our childhood lives.  We are richer for these relationships.”  By the way my mother’s name was “Esther” and she died at age 86;  same name and age as my friend and neighbor, Esther.

My mother was in a nursing home for six and a half years. She would say it was a “victory” when someone died at the nursing home. They were free of their pain! I will miss Esther a great deal, I but I picture her tossing her walker aside, walking among God’s creations, feeding the animals, and discussing recipes and seed catalogs.  Enjoy your VICTORY,  Esther!!