Esther Anne Mcnamara

Esther Anne McNamara, 77, passed away Thursday, October 20, 2005 at her home in Mt. Pleasant with the same sense of strength and faith she carried throughout her life. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating her life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Robert Byrne presiding. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at Lux Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Visitation continues at the funeral home on Monday from 10-10:30 a.m. There is no visitation at the church prior to mass. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Academy Foundation (P.O. Box 522, Mt. Pleasant MI 48804-0522) or Commission on Aging (3480 S. Isabella Rd., Mt. Pleasant MI 48858). Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home Esther was born Nov. 14, 1927 in Beal City, the daughter of John and Effie (Hauck) Schafer. She married Raymond McNamara on July 22, 1950 at St. Philomena Church in Beal City.A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, she spent much of her life caring for others. After retiring from Central Michigan Community Hospital in 1992, she continued to volunteer for the Ladies Auxiliary at Central Michigan Community Hospital and Sacred Heart Parish. Her most recent passion was the prayer line. Esther is survived by her eight children, Catherine McNamara of Traverse City, Patrick (Lynda) McNamara of Lexington, KY, Cheryl (Dan) Heintz of Grand Rapids, Daniel (Lesa) McNamara of Suffolk, Va., Colleen (Mark) Cunningham of Rutland, Mass., Timothy (Nhuanh) McNamara of Shanghai, China, Thomas (Teresa) McNamara of Midland, and Terry McNamara of Royal Oak; 20 grandchildren; one brother, Charles Schafer of Shepherd; three sisters, Renelda Klumpp of Beal City, Rita (Joe) Sheppard of Mt. Pleasant, and Shirley (Gene) Blackmer of Remus; four sisters-in-law, Joan Schafer of Detroit, Marie Schmittdiel of Boyne City, Bobbie McNamara of Pearl, Miss. and Catherine Nan McCord of San Diego, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Raymond in 1992; two sisters, Catherine Clevenger and Edna Theisen; and one brother, Lawrence Schafer.