Esther Moriarty

ESTHER I. MORIARTY

Esther I. Moriarty, age 86 of Cottage Grove, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at the Norris Square Presbyterian Home in Cottage Grove.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 920 Holley Avenue, St. Paul Park. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-7 pm at the Kok Funeral Home, 7676 – 80th Street S, Cottage Grove and also one hour prior at the church. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Esther Ida Moriarty, the daughter of Stephen and Anna (Geck) Horst, was born February 19, 1926 in Glen Ullin, North Dakota. As she grew up, she frequently helped out at the family meat market and was a graduate of Glen Ullin High School in 1944. Esther spent some time as a country school teacher before meeting the love of her life, Daniel Moriarty. They were united in marriage on December 30, 1946 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They lived in Minneapolis for a few years while Dan attended St. Thomas College. Shortly after his graduation they moved to Morris, Minnesota where they lived for several years to begin his teaching career and together they started their family.

In 1954 they moved to Newport and Esther took a job at the Montgomery Wards Catalogue Store where she worked for many years. Most recently, Esther and Daniel were residents of Norris Square in Cottage Grove.

Her focus was always on her family and loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved cats, quilting, gardening, playing bridge and bird watching. She was a dedicated and active member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Esther's family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Norris Square, Dr. Julie Vogel and Dr. Todd Smith for giving their mom such wonderful care and attention.

She is survived by her husband and companion of 65 years, Daniel; children, Peggy (Gary) Nelson, Tom (Terri) Moriarty, Mary (Fran) Graves, Steve (Barb) Moriarty, Patt (Rob) Rowland, Dan (Maurreen) Moriarty; grandchildren, Barb (John), Aaron (Liesl), Brian (Diana), Jeff, Greg, Michelle (Jason), Angie, Mike, Kaci, Jacob, Kelly, Scott (Kris), Sean (Jessica), Erinn; great-grandchildren, Sam, Max, Grace, Anna, Luke, Amanda, Jackson, Jillian, Deja, Zander and Gwenivere; and brother Gordon (Marietta) Horst. She is preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Anna Horst; sister, Jeannine Stoltz, infant son Joseph; son-in-law, Gus Hofschulte.