Esther F. Bley

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

A lifelong resident of Port Washington, she was born on May 11, 1928,  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 worked at Simplicity Manufacturing doing accounting work 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 more than 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 the St. Ben’s Meal program in Milwaukee.

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

Her children Bill (Robin) Bley of  Naples, Fla., Mary Jo (Larry) Lorenz of Port Washington, Mark Bley of Cedarburg and Jeff (Dawn) and Roger (Wendy) Bley, both of Port Washington; eight grandchildren, Ashley (Brandon), Eric, Kevin (fiancee 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 was 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 and brothers-in-law Robert and his wife Sylvia Bley, Don Bley, Allan and his wife Pat Bley and Fred Bley and sister-in-law Germaine “Tommi” Bley.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at St. John XXIII Catholic Parish, St. Peter of Alcantara Church, 1802 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington, Wis. The Rev. Patrick Wendt will be the celebrant. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at the church prior to Mass.

Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Washington, Wis.

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

Poole Funeral Home/Crematory, Port Washington, Wis., is assisting the family.

Information and condolences are available at www.poolefh.com or (262) 284-4431.

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Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

125 E. Main St.
Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 284-3494
 

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