Esther R. Case, 72 of     Hilmar, passed away peacefully, with loved ones holding her hands, on     August 18, 2012 following a courageous battle with cancer. Esther had a     beautiful and happy spirit. She was born in Turlock, CA October 13, 1939 to Harvey and Nellie MacDannald. Esther was the twin sister of Dr. Harry MacDannald, and sister to eight other siblings, she was always surrounded by love and laughter.

Esther graduated from Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, CA in 1957. She married Loren Case on November 15, 1958; they were happily married for 53 years. They were blessed with three children, Russell (Susie) Case, Leslie (Tom) Santos, Holley (Steven) Bettencourt. Nine grandchildren, Allison, Brandon, Maggie (Case), Zachary, Elliott, Sammi (Santos), Lauren, Gabrielle, Manuel (Bettencourt) and two great-grandchildren Sullivan and Johnny Harte (Case).

Esther worked as a legal assistant for attorney, Mr. Frad and then was a stay-at-home momma until returning to work, for 25 years, at Downey High School cafeteria until she retired.   Esther had a passion for gardening and enjoyed spending hours in her yard grooming and planting her beautiful flower garden. She and her husband loved to travel in their motorhome with the Nor-Cal Monaco Club and Modesto Elks Good Timers, where she was the Bean Bag Toss champion. Her love for her family was most evident in her beautifully sincere heart. She had a kind, gentle loving soul and her smile and laughter filled every room she entered.   Esther’s faith and strength came from a lifelong relationship with Jesus.

Esther’s home was always a warm loving environment and a place for family and friends to gather. She       always took the time to    remember special occasions and events in people’s lives. To Esther, everyone was family and included as so.

Esther is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Nim and Sol MacDannald, sisters Neva Martino and Grace Mathews, brothers-in-law Don Tonkin, Pete Martino, Al Chorkey and  father-in-law Larnard Case.

Esther is survived by her husband, her 3 children and their spouses, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings Lila (Lou) Villierme, Phillip (Pat) MacDannald, Andrea   Tonkin, Dr. Harry (Dayna) MacDannald and Mary (Salah) El Alami, brother-in-law Buddy Mathews, sister-in-law Linda MacDannald, mother-in-law       Lorraine Case, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bill and Lorrette Myers, Gene and Lorene Wilkenson and sister-in-law Lorelle    Chorkey.

Services will be held on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Lakewood  Funeral Home and Memorial Park at the Riverside  Chapel, Hughson, CA.  Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00p.m. at The Seasons, 945 McHenry Ave, Modesto, CA.

Donations can be made to the “Alexander Cohen Hospice House” 2201 Euclid Ave, Hughson, CA 95326.