Esther Marjorie Larkin Cartwright passed away on March 1, 2017, after a difficult struggle with dementia at the age of 93. She was born on November 27, 1923 to Frank and Pauline Larkin and lived in Stratford, Connecticut her entire life. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1942 and was married to Frederick James Cartwright, Jr.
Esther was very talented and quite active in her community. She supported her husband Fred in Drum Corps competitions and enjoyed attending concerts and parades for the CT Yankees, St. Raphael's Golden Buccaneers, and the CT Hurricanes. She was a seamstress who made many of her own, her daughters', and her granddaughters' clothes. She also knitted and crocheted, and her afghans were always a hit at craft fairs and Christmastime. She was an exceptional duckpin bowler and won many competitions with multiple teams during her career. She also enjoyed crafting, decorating, baking, cooking, and gardening.
Esther was deeply involved with Christ Episcopal Church, which she attended her whole life. She was active in the Girl Scouts of America and was the leader of Troop 244 at Christ Church for a number of years when her daughters were young. She participated in the Altar Guild, the Visiting Committee, and the Vestry. She also took part in the Christmas Fairs and Rummage sales. Working at the Golden Rooster Shop was a great enjoyment for Esther. During the last 15 years Esther was an important part of the leadership of the shop, successfully raising donations for the Church through shop sales.
Esther is predeceased by her husband Frederick James Cartwright Jr., her daughter Donna Jane Cartwright Orio, and by her older sister Dorothy Larkin Bivens. She is survived by her younger sister Mildred Larkin Carre, daughter Maralou Cartwright, her son-in-law Curtis Orio, and 5 grandchildren: Meghan Orio-Dunne, Erin Whitehead (Raymond), Andrew Orio, who was her caretaker in her final years, Justin Moore, and Lindsey Moore. She had 4 great-grandchildren: Caelen Dunne, Donnalisa Whitehead, Josephine Whitehead, and Norah Moore. She also had many nieces and nephews and friends. Especially important to her was her friend Beverly Elmendorf, whom she loved dearly.
Services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church on Saturday March 18, 2017 at 11:00 am. Interment will be held privately in Union Cemetery, Stratford. For online condolences please visit www.dennisanddarcy.com