A descendant of the Round Swamp Lester family who was known for her caring nature and generous spirit, Mary L. Lester died after a short illness on Aug. 11 at the Bridgeway Care and Rehabilitation Center in Hillsborough, N.J. She was 98 and had been living in Hillsborough for six years.
A lifelong member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in East Hampton, where she taught Sunday school and volunteered with the choir, she also volunteered at Southampton Hospital, one of its "pink ladies."
Mrs. Lester worked in accounting at the Osborne Trust Company. She acted in numerous productions with the Guild Hall Players, continuing an enthusiasm for performing that was first nurtured when she was a student at East Hampton High School.
In 1946, she married Jeremiah R. Lester. The couple lived at the Pantigo Lester farm on Skimhampton Road before building a house on Miller Lane West, where the couple raised their two children. Mr. Lester died in 2016, shortly before their 70th wedding anniversary.
Mary Lester was born at the family homestead on Oakview Highway in East Hampton on Oct. 2, 1925, to Charles R. Elley and Ada L. Elley.
While in high school, she was a class officer, wrote for the school paper, The Bonacker, and was a member of the field hockey team. She graduated with honors in 1943.
Mrs. Lester enjoyed reading and solving jigsaw puzzles. She took particular joy in feeding birds and liked to collect beach glass and picnic on the beach. She and her husband would take road trips to New England in the fall, attending local fairs along the way.
"She will be remembered as a caring person who dearly loved her family, especially her grandchildren," her family wrote.
A brother, Robert H. Elley, and a sister, Irene E. Gilnack, died before her. Mrs. Lester is survived by a daughter, Margaret L. DiCorleto, and her husband, Dr. Peter DiCorleto of Lascassas, Tenn., and by a son, Jay R. Lester, and his wife, Diane Lester of Branchburg, N.J. She also leaves two grandchildren, Dr. Kathryn Lester of Northampton, Mass., and Ryan Lester and his wife, Dr. Caroline Golski, of Warwick, R.I., and many nephews and nieces.
A private graveside service and burial officiated by the Rev. Dr. Cecily Patrick Broderick Guerra of Christ Episcopal Church in Sag Harbor will be held at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton. Her family has suggested memorial donations to the East Hampton Library, 159 Main Street, East Hampton 11937.
