Edith Petersen Esser

Edith Petersen Esser passed away peacefully at the Inn at the Sarasota Bay Club on June 15, 2015. Edith was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 20, 1922, and the family relocated to Mill Valley, CA, where she was raised. She served in the U.S. Coast Guard at the NY Recruiting Office, where she met her husband, Harrison J. Esser. Approximately 42 years ago, they left Maine and retired to Sarasota, FL. She was very active in the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and was an active member of the Church of the Palms. She served as a Deacon, sang in the choir, volunteered for the after-school tutoring program, and volunteered to work in the church office. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harrison J. Esser, her parents, Harold and Tatiana Petersen, and her brother, Harold Petersen. She is survived by her children, John P. Esser, Christina E. Harper, Sandra E. Neill, Suzanne E. Hanley, 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and her sister, May Vella. Our family would like to express our love and appreciation to the staff on the Sand-dollar unit at the Inn at the Sarasota Bay Club. Services will be held Friday, June 19, 2015, at 1 p.m. In the Chapel at the Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Church of the Palms Tutoring Program.