Life story prepared by her family - Edith Luella Kesterson, age 91, of Whiteford, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Her life began August 3, 1931 when she and her twin sister (who is unnamed and who died at birth) were born to John and Venus Brand in Mead Township, Belmont County, Ohio. Her siblings, Mary Ann Brand and Emery Brand preceded her in death.

In 1951, on February 25, in Decatur, Indiana, she married Kenneth Kesterson from Columbus, Ohio whom she was married to for nearly 72 years. She was mother to seven children (Vicki Lynn, Elizabeth Ann, Sarah Louise, Grace Marie, Kenny Kelles II, Christina Joy, and Paul David) and grandmother to sixteen grandchildren and great grandmother to twenty-nine great grandchildren. She is survived by all her immediate family.

Family! Edith loved her family! Her husband came first. When he came home from work, she was at the door waiting for him, welcoming him home with a hug and a kiss (Kenneth said, that over the years, they had their good days and their bad days, but they stuck it out, and he knew who was boss!). She, along with her husband, taught the children the value of working hard, of showing respect to others, of helping others, and of having a strong faith in God.

Going to church and hearing God's Word was important to Edith. She saw to it that her family heard about God and biblical values by having them at church on Sundays (even though the family usually arrived late) and by playing Christian radio at home (She loved the Christian radio's radio theatre and stories). She loved helping the shut-ins of the church (Reformation Bible Church) and was very active in the church's womens group and supported the church's missionaries. The Bible being important to her, she would have her cup of coffee and study her Bible every morning.

Edith was an excellent seamstress! When it came to sewing, making alterations, or making her own patterns, she was very neat and meticulous in her work; and her work was amazing. Besides sewing for others, she made her children's clothes, coats, and the girl's wedding dresses.

There were several things that she cherished. One of her favorite places to go with her daughters and granddaughters was the Tea Trolley in Whiteford. She also loved flowers and gardening (Her garden was huge!). The family antiques were something she loved and cherished. She loved the hobby of stamping and making cards for friends, family, shut-ins, and missionaries. Edith delighted in her friends of which she had many over the years. She loved and adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Of course, she wasn't perfect. She said that when she was very young that she was "very bad." For example, when her grandma and her aunts were canning chickens, she was outside canning chickens too…putting little peeps into jars and pouring water on them!

Though not one who liked to be fussed over, she will be greatly missed by her family and friends!

The funeral service will be held at Reformation Bible Church, 1736 Whiteford Road, Darlington, Maryland at 12:00 noon, Monday the 16th, followed by the internment at 1:45 p.m. in Harford Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen, MD.

The family of Edith Kesterson would appreciate and be grateful for donations in their mother's memory to the charity that was dear to her heart: The Agape Fund % Reformation Bible Church at the above address.