Melbourne, Fla. —
Esther was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Feb. 8,1927, the daughter of Joseph Crivello and Vincenza Di Raphaelli.
Educated in Brooklyn schools Esther was the first member of her family to graduate from High School!
After graduating she went to work in the final months of the 2nd World War at Floyd Bennett Field, an Army Air Corp base in Brooklyn. After that she held several jobs in private industry honing her skills as a stenographer and dictation.
The daughter of immigrants, Esther was proud to get a Civil Servants job with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, going to work on Ellis Island where, among other things, she worked as a stenographer taking down testimony from folks applying for refugee status in the U.S., including refugees fleeing the Hungarian uprising of 1956.
While working on Ellis Island Esther met Russell Danielson, the love of her life. They married on October 30th 1955. He predeceased her on Nov. 9, 2003.
Esther is survived by her children: daughter, Barbara Danielson and her husband, James Kelczewski of Ohio; sons, Rev. Charles Danielson of Vermont, and Glenn Danielson and his wife, Julie of Virginia; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; her sisters, Lydia LoGuidice of New York and Rita Basile of Florida; many nieces, nephews and cousins and friends all of whom will miss her very much.
Esther was an amazing child of God, faithful and loving, a devoted wife, she cared for her dear Russell during his final illness enabling him to die at home. A loving an nurturing mother and grandmother she was always there to encourage and support her children and grandchildren.
She was always up for a challenge, whether a game of “Crazy Gin”, Cribbage, or, more recently Rummikub. She learned how to play the guitar, helped sponsor a refugee to this country and volunteered her time at an Interfaith Thrift shop.
The world is a better place because of her, and we, are better people for having known her.
There are no calling hours.
A memorial Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday Oct. 8, 2016 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Shelburne, Vermont. at 11 a.m. with a reception immediately following in the parish hall.
Committal services are the following day, Sunday, Oct. 9 at the Danielson Family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, Mass.
Arrangements were handled by Life Event Center at Florida Memorial, Rockledge, Fla.