Esther J. (Angelo) Ponessa, formerly from Hershey and originally from Rexmont, died Sunday, April 28, 2024, from natural causes in The Middletown Home.

She was the daughter of Antonio and Louisa Angelo, who immigrated from Italy in the late 1890s. She was born on April 15, 1922, one day before Easter Sunday and was named Esther because of it. She recently celebrated her 102nd birthday with family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Betty Angelo, Rose Wida and Joseph Angelo, all from Lebanon County, and her husband, Frank, who died in 1955 at the far too young age of 41.

She is survived by: son James from Harrisburg; son Edward and wife Debra from Palmyra; granddaughter Renee Schriver (husband Vern); granddaughter Megan Frye (husband Seth); great-grandsons Noah and Ethan Schriver; great-granddaughters Jordan, Alexis and Ellie Frye; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and sisters-in-law.

She was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Cornwall, which is where she was married. She graduated from Cornwall High School in 1940.

She was the former owner of Ponessa's Pizza & Restaurant in Hershey. She was a great cook and loved gardening as she was a member of the Palmyra Garden Club along with her niece, Marion Heatwole.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Cornwall. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. with Father Rodrigo Arrazola as celebrant. Interment will follow at Holy Savior Cemetery, Cornwall, next to her husband. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Esther's name can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or The Middletown Home, whose staff took great care of "Bester" Esther over the past 19 months. Thompson's Funeral Home, Inc., has been entrusted with arrangements. Please share your memories with the family at our online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com