Esther Shirley Scuderi

Esther Shirley Scuderi, age 86, of Marco Island, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on October 14, 2021. She is survived by her two sons, Jon (Stacy) and Dave (Marni), her grandchildren Jake, Alyssa, Gianni, Teresa, Marco and Milana. She is also survived by her niece Dorothy, great niece and nephews Janice, Jeff and Jim, and their children. Esther was predeceased by her husband Salvatore, her parents Joseph and Theresa, her step-father Fred, her sister Mary and her brother Julio as well as many other uncles, aunts and cousins. Esther was the last surviving family member of her generation.

Esther was born in 1935 in Springfield, Massachusetts. She graduated from Westfield State University and obtained her master’s degree in education from the University of Hartford. In 1963, she married Sal, the love of her life. Esther and Sal moved to Marco Island in 1972. She started the first Montessori preschool on Marco and then spent thirty-three years teaching kindergarten at Tommie Barfield Elementary School. Tommie Barfield named a hallway “Scuderi Way” in her honor. Esther loved teaching young children and continued to teach Catholic education at San Marco Catholic Church well into her eighties.

After she retired from teaching at Tommie Barfield, Esther volunteered a significant amount of her time with the St. Vincent De Paul Society, working to help people in need. Like teaching small children, helping those in need became her mission. Esther was an active member of San Marco Catholic Church where she served as a reader, Eucharistic Minister, and CCD Teacher.

Esther was an exceptional woman who worshipped God, lived for her family, cherished her friends and served her congregation. She was loved by many as she spent her life doing things for other people. She felt she could never do enough to help others and prayed constantly for the well-being of those in need. While there are many positive words that could be used to describe Esther, the one that stands out is “Saintly”. Esther lived the life of a devout Catholic and was a true follower of Jesus. God, family, and service to others were her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, c/o San Marco Catholic Church, 851 San Marco Rd, Marco Island, FL 34145-4499. A Funeral Mass will be held at San Marco Catholic Church 851 San Marco Rd, Marco Island, FL on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 10:30 am.