Obituary of Mary Marguerite Esper

Mary Marguerite Esper, of Erie, passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2016. Beloved sister of Ronald (Kathleen) Esper of Erie, treasured aunt and second mother to nieces, nephews, and many others, all over the nation. Preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Fedwa Esper as well as her brothers and sisters, Emily (late Fred) Esper, Haifa Esper, Roger (late Henrietta) Esper, Frederick Esper, Bessie (late John) Bettor, Joseph (Waded) Esper, George (Ruth) Esper, William Esper, and Richard T. (Delia) Esper; also survived by scores of nieces and nephews. Mary, known as Margie or Mag, was born in Rankin, PA, raised in Swissvale, PA, and moved to Erie, PA in 1988. A selfless woman who thought only of others before herself, she was a secretary to her brother, Joseph, during his years of law practice. After her brother’s retirement, she became the superintendent of an apartment complex in Erie, PA, helping, again, to serve her brother, Ronald. A devout Orthodox Christian who never missed a service, she was a Sunday School teacher at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh, PA for over 40 years. After moving, she was a very strong presence at The Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Erie, PA where she continued to serve the Church, helping them with projects and food festivals. She was godmother to 15 people. Though she only received a high school degree, she went through college four times, helping with and typing the homework for four of her brothers, allowing them to become a schoolteacher, a lawyer, a chemical engineer, and a physician. She was the backbone and strongest presence of a family that survived through many eras, including the Great Depression. An adventurous spirit who loved to travel around the nation, making friends anywhere, she was a woman of few possessions. Her joy, later in life was reserved for nephews and nieces, each of whom look at her as another mother that nursed and cared for them as her own. This kindness and love extended to those outside of her family as well, whom she counted as her own. Friends may call at Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. A Trisagion Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Rd., with the Rev. Theofanis Nacopoulos officiating. Interment Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 3400 Dawson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, or to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Road, Erie, PA 16505, or the charity of one’s choice.