Esther Buchel Niver

Esther Buchel Niver passed away peacefully Thursday, January 3, 2013 surrounded by family and friends at the age of 86. Born in Lansing on July 17, 1926, preceded in death by her parents Albert and Catherine Buchel, Esther was a lifelong resident of Lansing. She graduated from St Mary’s High School in 1943. She was a devoted employee at St Lawrence Hospital for over 40 years holding a variety of administrative positions during her career. She loved opera and all sports, especially the Tigers and the Yankees. Esther was proud of her knowledge of Latin and was an avid reader with a particular fondness for The New Yorker magazine. Esther was passionate about many topics; music, the arts, politics to name just a few. She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. Esther was never afraid to express her opinion and would engage just about anyone in a discourse or debate. Her travels took her to Europe including Germany, Italy and Greece. Esther attended three Rose Bowls. She took great pride in her family and was involved in all aspects of their lives across three generations. Meeting at Esther’s house on N Chestnut St was always part of a plan. She was sister to Jack (Alice) Buchel, Mary Martha Easthope (Bob) Marshall, Bob (Betty) Buchel, and Jerry Buchel. Beloved mother of six children: Patty (John) Pratt, Linda (Steve deceased) Stuart, Christy (Rick) Bennett, Mary (Henry) Alexander, Susie (Tom) Campion and Mike (Lynn) Niver; Nine grandchildren: Beth (Brian) Fryer, Julie (Kyle) Oesterle, Cathy (Eric) Wade, Chad (Stephanie) Helminger, Jill (Dan) Weltzien, Tom Jr, Sally Campion, Sarah (Matt) Ganser and Jane Alexander; Fourteen great grandchildren: Tim, Chris Fryer, Abby Smith, Ben, Ryan Wade, Eric Oesterle, Kyle, Nate and Bret Helminger, Maddy, Lucy and Austin Weltzien, Madison, and Conner Ganser. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 7, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour, Lansing. The family will receive friends on Sunday at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave, East Lansing from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., where the Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, PO Box 30480, Lansing, MI 48909 in Esther’s memory. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com.