Esther E. Larkin

Esther M. Larkin passed peacefully to her eternal rest on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, attended by the kind staff of the Waterville Residential Care Center. She was 97 years old. 

 Esther Elizabeth Marvin was born in Brookfield, September 3, 1925, the daughter of Jewett Lull and Jessie Eliza Holmes Marvin. She was educated at Brookfield Central School, where she participated in chorus, orchestra, yearbook committee, and acted in the Senior class play with her high school sweetheart, Donald. Following graduation as class valedictorian, she successfully completed nurse training at St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Utica.  Esther married that high school sweetheart, Donald Lee Larkin, on March 4, 1948, at her childhood home in Brookfield. They birthed and raised four children, while running an active dairy farm in West Brookfield. At the time of Donald’s death in February, 2021, they were about to celebrate their 73rd wedding anniversary. 

As a Registered Nurse, Esther was employed for a time at the former Chase Memorial Hospital in New Berlin, and later in life worked as a private nursing care giver. She volunteered regularly with the Red Cross Blood Bank, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society. She was raised in the Brookfield Methodist Church, where as an adult she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was often a vocal soloist. She later sang in the choir, as a member of First Baptist Church of Brookfield.  Esther was long-time President of the local chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and was a member of Handsome Brook Home Bureau. Alongside her husband, she was active in Farm Bureau, Dairymen’s League, Brookfield Rural Cemetery Association, Town of Brookfield Historical Society, and the Grange, where she served several years as Lecturer for Madison County. For many years, she was the West Brookfield correspondent, writing weekly news for the Brookfield Courier.

Meanwhile, she ran a busy household as a wonderful wife and mother. She enjoyed music, (particularly the Crooners), reading books, working word puzzles, baking and cooking, gardening, and embroidering lovely gifts, including a baby quilt for each grandchild and several of the great-grandchildren. She also liked hummingbirds, wind chimes, and had a soft heart for the numerous farm cats who came to the door for scraps. 

Esther is survived by sister-in-law, Doris Edwards, of Crossville, TN; her sons, Thomas Larkin of Fountain Hills, AZ; Brian Larkin (Terri), of Earlville, NY; daughter Joan Gast (Douglas), of Stone Mountain, GA; grandchildren Sean (Anne) Larkin, Jason Larkin (Michael Jones), Joliene Larkin, Nathan Larkin (Leighanne Johnson), Kyle (Leah) Larkin, Noelle Gast, Amber (Knox) Evert, Chris (Paula) Larkin, Randy Larkin; 11 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, many dear nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Donald, her firstborn son, Fred, her parents, and her sister, Caroline Keith, several brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Services in memory of Esther will be announced later, to be held in Brookfield, with arrangements by Paul Funeral Home. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church of Brookfield, NY. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit paulfuneralhome.net

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