…Loving wife, mother and grandmother
LOWELL - Esther L. (Gauthier) Gath, age 82, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday afternoon, November 13, at her Belvidere home, after a lengthy illness. She was the wife of George J. Gath Jr., with whom she had celebrated a sixty-second wedding anniversary this past September 26.
She was born in Lowell, in October 1933, the youngest of five children of the late Henry and Anna (Gosselin) Gauthier, and was raised in the Acre section of Lowell. She attended Parochial schools in Lowell and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School. She remained a resident of Lowell throughout her lifetime, and enjoyed wintering at her home in West Palm Beach, Florida, with her husband in their retirement years.
Esther dedicated her life to caring for her family and supporting her husband, a local business owner. As her family grew, she returned to the workforce as a clerk at the Northern Middlesex County Registry of Deeds in Lowell’s Gorham Street Courthouse.
She was a Communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell, and a member of the D’Youville Ladies Guild. Esther loved spending time with her grandchildren and family especially the summers at Seabrook Beach.
In addition to time spent with her family, she also enjoyed gardening, relaxing in the sun, reading, and playing cards and games with friends.
Besides her beloved husband George, she leaves five children, Kathleen A. Markham of Loveland, CO, Susan Gath Koerber and her husband Michael Koerber of Lowell, Douglas G. Gath and his wife Amy Morse Gath of Pepperell, Michaela J. Hildreth and her husband Mark Hildreth of Reading, MA, and Justine E. DeFronzo and her husband Paul J. DeFronzo of Lowell; fifteen grandchildren, Luke Markham and Justin Markham both of OH, Heather Markham of CO, Dr. Laura Markham, D.V.M. and her husband Chris Markham of NH, Michael G. Koerber, Jarred A. Koerber, and Matthew D. Koerber all of Lowell, Ariana P. Gath of Framingham, Austin D. Gath and Emily G. Gath both of Pepperell, Paige E. Hildreth, Craig E. Hildreth, and Kyle D. Hildreth all of Reading, Katherine A. DeFronzo and Pasquale Evan DeFronzo both of Lowell; one great granddaughter, Olivia J. Markham of NH; brothers-in-law, Andre Ciesla of Billerica and Cornelius Gath of Tewksbury, sister-in-law, Mabel and her husband David Tully of Dunstable; numerous nieces and nephews. Esther was predeceased by her siblings, Leo Gauthier, Theresa Ouellette, Arthur “Gus” Gauthier, and Alice Ciesla.
Visiting hours Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. Her funeral will begin Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 10:00 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Church, 144 E. Merrimack St., Lowell. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in No. Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the MA Alzheimer’s Assn., 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472 or the New England Hospice, 190 Old Derby Rd., Ste. 304, Hingham, MA 02043 would be appreciated. visit tewksburyfuneralhome.com