Esther Marie Riley Rabe

Esther Marie Riley Rabe, 91, of Indianapolis, passed away Friday, May 3, 2013. She was born July 4, 1921 in Fairfield, IA to the late Joseph and Amelia Weenike. Esther was a beautician and home health aide. She was very active with the Ducktown, TN Senior Center and Murphy, NC Senior Center; delivered Meals on Wheels; was an avid gardener and talented artists especially painting, wood carving, basket weaving, and quilting. Esther was currently a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Indianapolis but wherever she lived she was active in church activities such as Sunday School teacher, Bible study, and various Women’s Clubs. She is survived by her children, Patricia Delph (husband, Carl), Martha Riley, and John Henry Riley; grandchildren, John, Andrew, and Katherine Delph; and step-children, Mary Jane (Bill) Friedhoff, William (Betty) H. Rabe, Janice (Jack) Walraff, Liz (Alan) Benzkofer, John (Helen) Rabe, Bob (Fran) Rabe, and many cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husbands, Dr. John H. Riley and William G. Rabe. Visitation will be Monday, May 6, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Calvary Lutheran Church, immediately followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Additional visitation will be held Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Turner Jenness Family Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Lakeland Memory Gardens at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity or Calvary Lutheran Church.