Supercentenarian Profile

Florence Esterly

Born:

1903-07-10

Reading, Pennsylvania

United States

Died:

2013-12-27

Allentown, Pennsylvania

United States

Florence Esterly (née Raab) was an American supercentenarian

BIOGRAPHY

Florence Esterly was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA, on 10 July 1903, to parents George Raab (1862–1925) and Genevieve Messmer (1870–1959). Three of her siblings lived beyond the age of 90: Anna Mary (1886–1978), Genevieve Dorothea “Jennie” (1890–1989), and William Frederick (1892–1990).

At some point, she married George Edwin Esterly Jr. (1904–1974). They had two daughters: Jane C. Messmer and Phyllis L. Grube. She worked as a full-fashion looper at several knitting mills in Reading for 40 years, retiring in 1967. She was also a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Reading.

Florence Esterly passed away in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on 27 December 2013, at the age of 110 years, 170 days. She was survived by her daughter Phyllis, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.