Esther A. McGillem

Esther Ann (Northerner) McGillem, 93, of Monrovia, Indiana, peacefully passed away just before sunrise on Thursday, the 23rd of May, 2024. Born on March 27, 1931, in Oakland City, Indiana to parents Roy Northerner and Birchie May (White) Northerner. Esther was a long-time resident of Camby, Indiana, and employed for many years by Flanner-Buchanan Funeral Home in Valley Mills, Indiana. As a young girl, she loved to dance and dreamed of becoming ice skater. But the man of her dreams came along one day, and she traded her dancing shoes for a wedding ring, and Donald Ray McGillem’s hand in marriage on April 27th, 1951. She collected jewelry and pretty things that caught her eye.

She enjoyed baking, sewing, fishing, pulling the ‘one-armed bandits’, and was a pistol packing member of the NRA. She was happiest when surrounded by her family and friends.

Mother to beloved Terry Hendrick, Chris Porter (Randy), Linda Young, & Don McGillem Jr.

Grandmother to Steve Hendrick, Craig Hendrick, Jennifer Burkhardt, Shawn Young, and Chelsea Young,

Great-grandmother to JT Burkhardt, and cherished mother-in-law and friend to Lisa Giblin (Mike).

She is survived by her daughters Chris Porter (Randy), Linda Young, grandchildren Chelsea Young, Shawn Young, Jennifer & JT Burkhardt, and nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Donald R. McGillem, sons Terry Hendrick and Don McGillem Jr, grandchildren Steve and Craig Hendrick, and her 7 siblings: five sisters and two brothers.

On a beautiful spring day in May, she was laid to rest, at Fairfield Friends Cemetery, next to her husband and near her sons and grandsons. 

A small family graveside service fulfills her last wishes before joining much loved family in Heaven.

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