Esther Batey Toher of Natick, formerly of Newton passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, February 6, 2008. She was 95 years old. Esther was born in Needham on May 14, 1913 and was raised and educated in Newton. She was a graduate of Newton High School Class of 1930. She married her high school sweatheart, Robert Gleason Toher and together they raised their family in Newton. In 1981 they moved to Natick. Esther was an inspiration and devoted herself to her family, friends, her church and community. She retired in 1978 from the Newton Recreation Dept. where she worked for 19 years as a Senior Citizen director and advisor. While her family was growing up in Newton Mrs. Toher was president of the PTA at Horace Mann and Cabot Elementary Schools, F.A. Day Junior High and Newton High School. She was a leader and on the board of Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts of Newton.
A pillar of the United Methodist Church of Newton, she served the church in many capacities. Esther was President of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, Superintendent of the Primary Dept., a lay leader and a member of the board of directors. Esther was also on the board of Church Women United. Following the death of her husband in 1991, Mrs. Toher became active as a volunteer in the town of Natick. She received the honor of Woman of the Year in Natick in 1996. She earned recognition from the “Silver Dove” (devoted outstanding volunteer service to elders) volunteer program on a state level twice during the Weld administration. She was voted Person of the Year in 2000 by the BayPath Home and Community Service, Inc. Esther was quoted in one of her acceptance speeches as saying “she volunteered from the position of abundance because she has a full life and heart and wants to give of herself and her time to the full extent she is able”. Esther was a member of the clan MacBeth Society of North America.
The beloved wife of the late Robert Gleason Toher, She was a devoted mother and will be dearly missed by her children Beverley E. Ferran and her husband Herbert of Templeton, Janice T. Rapp of Wellesley and James T. “Skip” Toher and his wife Jeanne of Ashland and the late Robert B. Toher. Cherished grandmother of Bruce Toher, Wayne Toher, and his wife Maureen, David Toher and his wife Debbie, Joan Toher, Glenn Toher and his wife Serchya, Bethany Knight, Pamela Stirk, and her husband Dennis, Scott Ferran and his wife Carla, Douglas Ferran, Jill Dietz and her husband Ryan, Todd Rapp and his wife Amanda, Christopher Toher and the late Beverley Ferran. She was the cherished great grandmother of Cassandra Toher, Robert Toher, Max Toher, Jacqueline Toher, Nicollette Toher, Natalia Toher, Abigail Rapp, Brian Rapp, Molly Rapp and great great grandmother of Joshua Nickerson. Esther was the half sister of Vernon Batey and the late Robert and Norman Batey. A Memorial Service with a reception to follow will be held at the United Methodist Church of Newton, 430 Walnut St. Newtonville on Saturday Feb. 14th at 11: 00 AM. Relatives and friend are kindly invited. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Parmenter VNA & Wayside Hospice, 266 Cochituate Rd. Wayland MA 02556. Arrangements by the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Ave Needham MA.