Lynne Kestner Dowell age 70, daughter of Edgar(deceased) and Betty(deceased)Kestner, wife of 48 years to Richard and mother to Aaron and Kate(Jesse), loving sister of Mark(Wendy) Kestner and Paul(Karen)Kestner and life long friend to Carol Cameron Sizer, sister-in-law to several and aunt to many nieces and nephews, passed peacefully April 2, 2019 after a four year battle with MSA.
She was a graduate of Nazareth Academy and a 1972 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art where she majored in painting and printmaking. Her early career as a commercial artist was put aside as she dedicated herself to raising her children while maintaining her art work for personal pleasure. Several of her works are in the permanent collection at the Butler Institute of American Art. She became interested in woodworking and filled the home with many unique and pleasing works of art ranging from furniture to cabinetry to bird houses. Lynne was also active in maintaining several gardens in the yard assuring a beautiful color palette of flowers through out the summer and fall months. She also had a soft spot for cats with several being ever present as members of the household, “Hotshot” being her favorite.
Visitation is Saturday April 27 from 4-7PM at Craciun Funeral Home, 14925 East Bagley Rd. Middleburg Heights. In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation be made in Lynnes memory at the Parma Animal Shelter (parmashelter.org), 6260 State Road, Parma OH 44134 or Mid Hudson Animal Aid (minhudsonanimalaid.org), 54 Simmons Avenue, Beacon NY 12508