Esther Russell passed away peacefully at ARC in Normal, August 20, 2024.
Born September 24, 1927 to Artie and Lula McDaniel in Bloomington, IL, she was the 8th of 12 children, having ready-made best friends, she was never alone. Growing up on Indiana Street in Bloomington she was a part of the large and lively McDaniel family. She loved sharing stories of her growing up, in which there were many.
Esther McDaniel was a January 1946 graduate of Bloomington High School. That same year; on a blind date, she met Robert E. Russell, a recent U.S. Navy veteran, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Married October 25, 1946 in a simple ceremony at Park United Methodist Church in Bloomington, their legacy of love and family began.
In 1956, with their children Tom (1947), David (1952), and Linda (1954) along with the family dog Inky in tow, they moved to Southern California for Robert’s career with State Farm Insurance Company. Family being important to Rob and Esther, every summer the family drove back to Central Illinois so “the kids could know their cousins”. This was probably more important to Esther’s well-being, to see her siblings. These were memorable moments for us kids as well, to see our cousins and to witness first hand the ‘Ding-A-Ling’ sisters laughing and enjoying one another.
Robert and Esther returned to Bloomington, IL in 1977 to be closer to family and prepare for Rob’s retirement from State Farm Ins. Co. in 1981. In 1983 they built their home in Indian Creek Subdivision just outside of Towanda, IL which they enjoyed for many years with their growing family of grands and great-grands.
After 63 years of marriage, Robert, the bedrock of Esther’s life, passed away unexpectedly on January 31, 2010. This began a new chapter in her life. She proved to be stronger than she knew.
In January 2020, Esther moved to an apartment at Blair House, Normal, IL where she made new friends and was able to cherish established friendships. While living there, Esther was able to reconnect with a childhood friend Russell Dalton. Having grown up as neighbors, birthdays within days of one another, going all through school together and having introduced Russ to her girlfriend, who became Russ’ wife, they shared many of life’s experiences, as old friends.
With the dementia rapidly advancing, Esther moved to ARC of Normal in June where she settled into their Legacy Unit. There she found the comfort of a family-like community. She was well cared for and loved on by the staff and her family, she was always smiling and her blue eyes sparkling.
Left to remember are a son Tom (Marlene) Russell of Bloomington, IL, grand-daughter Renee (Todd) Weber, great-grandchildren Ethan and Emma of Normal, IL; a daughter-in-law Lita Russell of the Philippines; a daughter Linda (Gary) Bachman of Hudson, IL, granddaughter Christina (Justin) Messerschmidt, great-granddaughters Honore and Elise of Naperville, IL; grandson Noah (Haley) Bachman, great-grandson Logan of Danvers, IL; sister Edna (Bob- deceased) Chancellor of Bloomington, IL and many nieces and nephews.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, her son David (2022) and her siblings Al, Helen, Dot, Ed, baby Arthur, Millie, Ginny, Pete, Marian, and Earl.
G. Esther McDaniel Russell will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband following a private family memorial at the Hudson Cemetery, Hudson, Illinois.
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