Video of Esther Bley Memorial Mass

Esther F. Bley, age 94, of Port Washington, Wisconsin passed away peacefully Thursday, March 2, 2023 at Lincoln Village in Port Washington where she had resided the past few years.

A lifelong resident, she was born on May 11, 1928 in Port Washington to Mathias and Martha Klein Hansen.  Esther attended St. Mary’s parochial school and graduated from Port Washington High School in 1946.

Over the years she shared stories of how she helped clean houses for others from age 11 and later working at Simplicity Manufacturing doing accounting work in the office before she was married.

On May 11, 1957, Esther married William C. “Bill” Bley at St. Mary’s Church in Port Washington.  They built a home on Monroe Street where they lived and raised their family. 

Esther was active with her five children and her parish.  She would later work at Power Products for over 20 years, retiring in 1990.  She enjoyed playing cards and time spent with others.  Esther had been a member of the Hawthorne Honeys Golf league and Port Washington Senior Center.

During her retirement, Esther enjoyed her travels with her husband.  She knit caps for babies born at St. Alphonsus and St. Mary’s Hospital-Ozaukee.  She volunteered as a Bingo caller at Heritage Nursing Home in Port Washington and was a participant and supporter of St. Ben’s Meal program in Milwaukee.

Her husband Bill preceded her in death on September 16, 2007.

Her children Bill (Robin) Bley of  Naples, FL, Mary Jo (Larry) Lorenz of Port Washington, Mark Bley of Cedarburg, Jeff (Dawn) and Roger (Wendy) Bley, both of Port Washington, eight grandchildren Ashley (Brandon), Eric, Kevin (fiancé Jenn), Jessica, Melissa (Kevin), Staci (Matt), Adam and Abigail; great grandchildren Bradley, Claire, Brennen, Henry and William, her brother Paul (Joan) Hansen of Port Washington, sisters-in-law Iva Bley and Betty Bley, brothers-in-law Gary (Shirley) Bley and Ray Tiegs, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends survive her.

Esther is preceded in death by her husband Bill, her brothers Tom and James Hansen, her sister Ruth and her husband Loschel Pierringer, her sister Mary Jane and her husband Bob Janzer, her sister Doris Tiegs, brothers-in-law Robert and his wife Sylvia Bley, Don Bley, Allan and his wife Pat Bley, Fred Bley and sister-in-law Germaine “Tommi” Bley.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 6:30PM Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at St. John XXIII Parish – St. Peter of Alcantara Church, 1802 N. Wisconsin Street, Port Washington, WI.  Reverend Patrick Wendt will be the celebrant.  Family will receive relatives and friends from 4-6:15PM Wednesday AT CHURCH prior to Mass.

Interment St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Washington, WI.

Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) appreciated.

PRINT THIS OBITUARY

1 Comment

  1. Aunt Esther will be missed. I will miss knowing that she was always up for a visit even when she didn’t necessarily remember who I was.

Comments are closed.