Kestler, Mary Denise

Mary Denise Kestler - age: 61
(August 30, 1950 to January 15, 2012 )
Resident of Redwood Valley, California

Obituary:
Mary Kestler
Beloved
Wife, Mother, Step Mother, Sister, Aunt, Friend
August 30, 1950 - January 15, 2012

Mary Denise Kestler passed peacefully into God's tender embrace on January 15, 2012 cradled in the loving arms of her husband of 30 years. Metastatic lung cancer was discovered very late; she passed away only 10 weeks after diagnosis. She lived her life as an instrument of God's love. She practiced kindness and gentleness sprinkled with fun, puns and humor every day with her family, friends, and co-workers.
Mary was born in Van Nuys, CA on August 30, 1950, grew up in Southern California where she attended Catholic elementary school and graduated from Thousand Oaks High School in 1968. In the early 1970s, she moved to Santa Rosa, CA where she earned her Registered Nurse license at Santa Rosa Junior College and B.S. in Nursing from Sonoma State University. While at SRJC, she developed an interest in international folk dancing and music, which continued for the rest of her life, including being a singer/dancer in the Dunav performing folk ensemble in Santa Rosa.
With calmness and compassion Mary worked for many years as a home health nurse, a Hospice nurse, and a school nurse at our daughter's schools. These experiences led her back to college to earn her California School Nurse credential and work for many years as a District School Nurse in Santa Maria, CA and Ukiah, CA.
In 1980 Mary met her husband at a folk dance camp in Mendocino Woodlands. They were married on August 13, 1981 in the Village of Mendocino, CA. Mary loved planning family trips and vacations; cooking gourmet dinners for birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas; making gifts for her friends; singing in her church choir; reading English historical novels. She remained a lifelong Dodgers fan, despite living amongst lifelong Giants fans.
Mary lived more than 20 years in Sonoma County, CA, 7 years in Lansing, NY, 2 years in Santa Maria, CA and 9 years in Redwood Valley, CA. Wherever she called home, she sang in her church choir, made friends easily, and people loved her.
Mary's faith and trust in God were without question, be it from the routines of daily life through her final passing. Her gentle kindness was the quiet bond that held her family and friends close.
Mary was preceded in death by her mother Pauline Stolle Kestler, father Robert Kestler, sister Theresa Kestler, and all of her aunts and uncles. She leaves behind her husband of 30 years Eugene Erickson; daughter Britta Erickson of Bothell, WA; step daughter Linsey (Erickson) Fassel along with her husband Roy Fassel and their 2 children of Loomis, CA; sisters Patricia Kestler of Santa Rosa, and Roberta Kestler-Tobias of Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland; and nieces Meghan, Mollye, and Murphy Kestler-Tobias; and many very close, dear friends.
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Mary, please help support the Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County, Phoenix Hospice of Willits, Volunteer Hospice of Ukiah, American Cancer Society, or any animal rights organization.