Esther Mae (Huntley) Northrup

Esther Mae Northrup, 97, of North East passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday October 18th 2025 at her residence.

She was born on July 13, 1928 in Wesleyville, Pennsylvania to the late Cecil and Helen (Thornton) Huntley.

Esther graduated from North East High School in 1947 and lived in the era of being a "stay at home mom". When her kids all started school, she started picking and tying vines for local grape farms in North East way before "the picker" was ever dreamed of. Esther later worked at Northrup Slaughter House where she packaged meat.

She loved family gatherings, special occasions, and social events. A memorable moment is when her family threw her a 90th birthday party and she received her first brand new washing machine which made her smile. 

Esther truly believed in the lucky number of 13. Esther and her husband's birthday and anniversary was on the 13th, they had 13 grandchildren, and when she went to the senior center to play BINGO "the highlight of her week" the card had to have a 13 on it "lucky, lucky".

She loved her close friends at the North East Senior Center and always cherished their conversations and a "good joke".

Esther was well known in North East as "The Cookie Lady". She loved to bake and will always be fondly remembered for giving out homemade cookies to friends and family throughout the town.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald F. Northrup whom she married March 13, 1948; son, David Northrup; brothers, Alton and Howard Northrup; sisters, Shirley Baker, Betty Lou Huntley, and Agnes L. Huntley; grandchildren, Kim and Ashlie Northrup.

Esther is survived by her children, Sandra Schoenfeldt (Jim), Fred Northrup (Carol), and James Northrup; grandchildren, Fred Northrup, Don, Doug, Derek, and Darren Sochoenfeldt, Brian, Susan, Stacie, Brandon, Joshua, and Tim Northrup; and blessed with several great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild.

Friends and family may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home on Thursday October 23rd from 2:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. and are invited to attend a funeral service on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Officiating the service is Pastor Brad Yost. Interment will be held at North East Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Community Nursing Services of North East, 7 Park Street, North East, PA 16428. Please send condolences to elkinfh.com.

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