Obituaries

Margaret C. “Monni” Lester

Monni Lester, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, creative writer and poet completed her final chapter Friday August 27, 2010 at age 84.  She was most recently a resident of The Glen at Willow Valley Retirement Communities as well as Meadow Ridge and Willow Gables.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Meadow Ridge and Fourth Floor at the Glen for their loving and attentive care of Monni.

Monni completed her life’s journey and joined her beloved husband, Joseph, in Heaven who preceded her in death November 17, 2009. They were married 58 years.

Born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on July 9, 1926 to parents Harold Terry Clark and Mary Ermina Sanders Clark, Monni had three brothers and two sisters: surviving is her brother, William Sanders Clark of San Francisco, CA.   She was preceded in death by brothers David Sanders Clark of Fayetteville, NC; John Terry Clark of San Francisco, CA; and sisters, Mary Ermina Clark Schultz of Hanover, NH; and Annie Otis Clark Reece of Concord, MA.

Monni  is survived by four children:  Joseph T. Lester, III of Reno, NV; Martha Lester Harris and husband Randolph J. Harris of Lancaster, PA; Mary Lester Zerbe and husband Grant N. Zerbe of Lustre, MT; and Susan Lester Busch and husband Ross M. Busch of Spokane, WA.

Monni and Joe had seven grandchildren, 3 boys and 4 girls, ranging in ages from 10 to 28 years old; Clayton J. Zerbe, Sarah Zerbe Hanson, Katherine I. Zerbe, Janell C. Zerbe, Kathryn E. Harris, Conner J. Busch, Evan J. Busch.

Monni attended Park School of Cleveland from kindergarten through 9th grade. She attended Hathaway Brown School for Girls in Cleveland where she was President of Student Council and was selected Honor Girl in her senior year. She graduated in 1944.

Monni graduated from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA, in 1948, majoring in English Composition.   While attending Wellesley, she wrote a biography of her father, Harold Terry Clark, and won a first prize award for her original novel, entitled, “The Fruit of the Vine.” Her most recent book, “Childhood Memories – Kennebunkport, Maine, 1926-1939,” was published in December, 2009.

Monni met her husband, Joseph Thomas Lester, Jr., of Jacksonville, FL, in September, 1948 at the wedding of mutual friends, where they were both members of the wedding party.  They were married in on April 7, 1951 at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights, OH.

Through the years, Monni continued her writing, producing a rich collection of poetry, family journals and travelogues, which created a wonderful record of their family.  They raised their four children in Wilmington, DE.  After residing there for 46 years, Joe and Monni moved to Lancaster County in 1999.

Joe and Monni traveled to many historical sites at home and abroad. They were skilled in personal, original re-enactments of the lives of George and Martha Washington and James and Dolly Madison, which they presented to dozens of church and senior groups in Delaware and Pennsylvania over the past 20 years.

A dedicated Christian, Monni was active in church life, organizing programs for the elderly (EGGS, “Experienced Generation Group, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Wilmington, DE),  hosting internationals in their home and offering hospitality  to anyone in need.  Monni and Joe were active members of Lampeter United Methodist Church.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to a Committal Service at Willow Street United Church of Christ Cemetery on Peach Bottom Road on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 3:00 PM. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 3 PM at Lampeter United Methodist Church 1651 Book Rd. Lancaster, PA 17602. Friends and family will be received from 2pm until the time of the service. Refreshments to follow in the reception hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lampeter United Methodist Church. To send the family online condolences please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com  Charles F. Snyder FuneralHome & Crematory 717-393-9661

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Martha, we were very sorry to hear about the passing of your mother.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Kathryn and all of those who knew, loved and will miss your mother. 

Sincerely,
Carrie and Mason

Dear Family,
Norris and I send our sincere sympathy to you all, joe, Martha, Mary and Susan, we so appreciated and loved your father and Mother, they are truly missed.   May God comfort your hearts,

Much love and prayers,
Marge and Norris Forum

Martha & family –  So sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.  She was quite an accomplished woman!  Interesting to see that she was born and raised in the Cleveland area, as was I.  Take care and our prayers are with you.
Marge Fry & family

Dear Martha and family,
Oh my. I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. Thank you for sharing the information with me, including the obituary, from which I learned about your mother’s impressive accomplishments as a writer. I identified with that part of her story, of course. My given name was also Margaret, so she and I had that in common too. My thoughts are prayers are with you as you grieve and adjust to a world without both parents.
Fondly,
Mariah Burton Nelson

Dear Martha, Mary, Susan and Joe,
You have been through so much in the past year with the loss of both of your parents.  We were blessed to be able to know them, and loved their gentle spirits, their generous and gracious hearts, and the twinkle in their eyes. I enjoyed reading some of your mother’s writing and appreciated her imagination, love of nature and her way with words.  It was special to look through the beautiful Childhood Memories book with her earlier this year.  May God continue to comfort you and your families and give you much joy as you look back at special times you had together and anticipate the future family reunion in heaven.

love and prayers,
Sue and Paul Hoiland

Dear Martha, Mary, Susan, and Joe, 
   I was saddened to read of your mother’s passing. For many years my family lived across the street from yours in Foulk Woods. In fact, as a teenager I baby sat for you, and my sister Barbara played with Mary. I remember both your parents as kind-hearted and soft-spoken and, in your mother’s case a writer of poetry. I remember reading some of her poems but never realized what a prolific and accomplished writer she was. What a legacy she leaves for you.
   Having lost both our parents within months of each other, my sisters and I know what a difficult time this must be for you. We all send our sympathy, thoughts, and prayers to you.
   Bonnie Campbell Underkoffler, Cathy Campbell Klenk, Barbara Campbell Lofink

Joe, Martha, Mary and Susan,
We are so sorry. It is very painful to miss Margaret especially shortly after missing your father Joe Lester Jr in November 2009.  We have had a memorable relationship with your parents for over five decades. 
I can never forget Margaret’s last but lasting benevolence rendered to me in November 2008 when I was about to have a knee replacement in India.  Margaret and Joe kindly offered a huge sum of money which helped offset the cost of that surgery.  Now I can walk with ease, less pains and at most times without support.  Glory be to God. I will live to remember both of your parents.  Margaret has gone to be with Her Father.  May God bless all of you children, grand children and great grand children. 
Nsefi (ND) Umoren,

Joe, Martha, Mary and Susan,
I am very sad to hear about the passing of your mother, a very dear friend and an important member of the Edet A. Umoren’s family of Nigeria. I was reading about her life on the website and just thinking that the write up did not reflect the depth of her kindness and generosity. I guess that is the part of her life that words can never express. Suffice it to say that your parents were tremendous people and we will forever miss them. They helped build our family, not to mention the fact that Joe and Margaret would drive miles to visit me to bring toys that were made by Joe to my children. Never mind the fact that I never really kept in touch ( I relied on my mom to keep me informed about them). Thank you to all of you for letting your parents share their lives with us. May God continue to bless your families and give you the type of love your parents had for other people they did not even know. May your mom’s soul rest in perfect peace with the most High God.
Dorothy Umoren umoh
Plano, TX

Dear Joe,Martha,Mary and Susan,

We regret that we were unable to be with you today,at your Mother’s Memorial Service. Please know that we are holding you in our hearts and prayers. Your parents were such amazing people and we have wonderful memories of all the time we spent with them over the many years. They were our Martha’s first baby sitters when she was 4 months old. They were always so gracious and kind: Christmas Parties at your Foulk Woods home, Stone Harbor visits, visits to our home in Liftwood, sharing their talents at Foulk Manor South as Martha and George Washington, EDL parties, and on and on. Thank you for sharing them with us. They were a blessing to us and many others.

Our love to you and your families,
Harry and Doris Ladd

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