Shirley Catharine (Foust) Fester

Shirley Catharine (Foust) Fester, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family members on Friday evening, May 5th, 2023 in her Orangeville home of 71 years.  

Born March  19, 1935, in  Bloomsburg, she was a daughter of the late Wilbur and Bessie (Creasy) Foust.  Growing up on Leonard Street, in Bloomsburg, she had a lifetime love for the Bloomsburg Fair.  She spent most of her childhood on  her Grandparents Farm in Grovania.  ("Grammy and Grampy Foust").

She was so proud of being able to hook up a team of horses to plow the fields and later on being able to operate any of the other updated/modern farm equipment, oftentimes making a muscle for the children and grandchildren, saying:  "Feel that!  Would you just feel that?  That's from hard work!"  

She was a member of the Bloomsburg High  School Class of  1953.

Shirley married her high school sweetheart, F. Eri Fester and settled in Orangeville, having and raising their five children there.

Throughout her adult life she worked giving  "Teddy Bear Haircuts" to anyone that trusted her with clippers and she had also worked at McCarthy's Nursing Home (currently "The  Orangeville Manor").

She was a Girl Scout Leader and a member of the Orangeville Civic Club.  She worked in Buck's Store on Main Street, which became the original Hess Market.  She and her husband had supported the Orangeville United Church throughout the years.  

She was employed by the Orangeville Post Office for more than 35 years, retiring at the age of 71.  She was always greeting customers with a smile and making new friends. She also did food-prepping at the Wagon Shed in Bloomsburg.

Shirley acquired many nicknames over the years:  "Fousty", "Shirl", "Shird", "Grammie", "Gram", "GG", "First Lady" and she answered to everyone one of them.  

She was a very, very loving, sacrificing, giving, and caring human being.  God blessed her five children with the cream of the crop!

If you were even just a little bit dressed up, she referred to you as "sheeky deeky"!

Shirley and her husband, Eri, (Mayor of Orangeville 1964-2000) hosted many pig roasts and chicken bar-B-Ques' at their farm, outside of Orangeville.  They also hosted card-playing every weekend, for more than 60 years, playing "31" and "Showdown" ("With 3 Quarters and Your Honor").

The Fester Home was the "Nucleus" of the Family and extended family.  On the way to everywhere…"pick-up/drop-off/ meet ya there" and was the half day Kindergarten Lunch Spot…always serving her signature "toasted cheese and chocolate milk" for the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren; parking for patio gatherings and for Orangeville Carnival week.  It was a "second home" to many Orangeville kids growing up in the 60's, 70's and 80's.  The yard with no grass left!  No one ever left the Fester's hungry or thirsty!

Preceding her in death, along with her Parents and Husband were her In-Laws, Eri I. and Della (Patterson)  Fester; her only brother, Charles Foust and her dear friend, Don Kern.

Her survivors include her five children:  Steven (Tami); Susan Molinaro (Dave); Sheldon, Sharon (Doug), Shawn (Jennifer); her sisters:  Nancy Deitrick and Beverly Balanda; sister-in-law, Connie R. (Kressler) Foust.  Also surviving are nine grandchildren:  Chris Molinaro (Wendy); Kelly Molinaro Kishbaugh (Brandon); Erik Fester (Melissa); Michael Fester (Jess);  Devin Fester (Kelli); Nick Fester (Sabrina Decking), Luke (Josey Long), Eri Fester and Clay Fester and nine Great Grandchildren. 

A very heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone that visited, brought food, and her favorite deserts, and had a hand in on helping us keep our mother safe and happy in her own home; Lisa Newman, Vickie Sult, Pat Garocy, Joselyn Long; our loving Aunt Nancy and family friend, Diane Robbins, as well as the Staff of Commonwealth Hospice, of Berwick.  

Graveside services will be held Saturday, August 12th, 2023 at 11 AM at McHenry Hill Cemetery, Orange Township, with Pastor Jason Simpkins, Stillwater Christian Church, officiating.  A Celebration of her Life will immediately follow at the Molinaro home in Orange Township.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the charity of the donor's choice.

 The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored to serve the Fester Family.  For online condolences, please visit:  www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com

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