Esther Pizarro's Official Obituary

ROSELLE - Esther Susan Pizarro, 59, of Roselle, was called to her eternal home on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, after a valiant battle with brain cancer.

She was born in Sterling, on Dec. 21, 1948, the youngest daughter of Henry and Ruth (Fuentez) Pizarro Sr. She spent her entire childhood in Sterling, attended Wallace School, and graduated from Sterling High School, class of 1966. Esther moved to the Chicago area, and began her working career. She had an incredible number sense, and for the past 18 years, she enjoyed the challenge of employment as an accounts payable manager at Lakewood Engineering and Manufacturing Co., Chicago. She prided herself in practicing great penmanship, although she had mastered the computer world.

Esther is survived by two sisters and two brothers, Aurora Marie Simmons-Miller, of Rock Falls, Rita (Carl) Churlin, of Roselle, and Anthony D. (Rosemary) Pizarro and Leroy (Norma) Pizarro, of Sterling; and her kindred spirit, Judy (Howard) Lazarus, of Roselle. Also surviving are one sister-in-law, Beverly Pizarro, of Rock Falls; one brother-in-law, Leonard (Norma) Pendola, of Wilmington; an aunt, Mary Vasquez of Woodstock; and godchild, Valerie Ruth Carino, of Plainfield. Special nieces, Carla (Dale) Carino, of Plainfield, and Claudine (Randy) Wasnick, of Glen Ellyn, survive, as do several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and her feline special girls, Cleopatra and Puddin'.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Ruth Pizarro; one sister, Mary "Tootsie" Pendola; and one brother, Henry "JR" Pizarro Jr.

She was a member of St. Walter Catholic Church, Roselle. Esther was an accomplished baker, creating many types of cakes, including wedding cakes. Her favorite relaxation was baking cookies at any hour. For several years, she expressed her love of God's little animals, especially kittens, by volunteering with the PACT Humane Society of Downers Grove, where she held the position of feline intake manager. She was dedicated to the spaying/neutering adoption program, and fostering kittens, to bring joy and love to the lives of these abandoned and neglected kittens.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at McDonald-Allen-Grennan Funeral Home, 505 First Ave., Sterling. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Church, Sterling, with a family prayer service at 9 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at the family plot at Calvary Cemetery, Sterling.

(As published on the Sauk Valley web site on January 2, 2008.)