Esther was born to Abraham E. and Anna Feldman Kessler on August 26, 1919, in Brooklyn, New York. Little did she know she was actually their second child. They gave their first daughter up for adoption,
According to her father’s application for a passport in Dec. of 2019, the family was living at 1382 St. Johns Place in Brooklyn. [1]
The building was built in 1914 as a 4-story 24-family house in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.[2]
Below is what the building looks like today. [3] In the 1920’s it was considered a premier neighborhood because of its tree-lined streets, parks and cultural, social and community organizations. [4]
During the depression, her family moved to Canarsie, across the street from her grandfather Morris. However, by 1930, they had moved to 1116 Carroll Street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Their new apartment was within walking distance to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens which was founded in 1910.. Also in Crown Heights was the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the world’s first children’s museum, which opened in 1899.
Abe, Anna, Florence and Esther
By 1940, they had moved down the street closer to the Park to an apartment building called The Carrollton at 934 Carroll Street
Her first cousin cousin, Eddie Wissner, remembered being at the Kessler home and going to both Florence’s and Esther’s Sweet 16 parties. As the oldest cousin, and a boy, he was invited to all of the girls’ parties. He had a good relationship with them.
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Esther and her first cousin, Estelle Rosenberg Eisler
Esther and her first cousin, Estelle Rosenberg Eisler
Esther studied fashion at Parsons School of Design in the late 1930’s. The school is now located at 66 5th Ave, New York, NY .
In October 0f 1940, Barnet V. Kaufman applied for a marriage license for him and Esther. They had a son and a daughter, but sadly Barnet passed away on July 14, 1972.
Esther’s daughter married in 1969 and moved to Washington, D.C. with her new husband. Esther moved there also to be close to her daughter. There she met Philip Jerome Mason and they married in Arlington, Virginia, on January 3, 1975. [5] That marriage was not a happy one.
Esther was a natural blue-eyed blond. According to her first cousin, Estelle Eisler, Esther was the “fancy” cousin and always liked material things.
In 2007, at about age 85, she was able to attend her grand-niece’s wedding in New York City. That was the last time she saw her sister, Florence. Although Esther lived until 2013, they were never able to get together again.
Esther loved to cook and was known for her chocolate truffles. She shared the recipe with her daughter who lived in Rome for 10 years and always made them for diplomatic events. Esther’s granddaughter submitted the recipe which got included in the book “Sugar, Sugar: Every Recipe Has A Story” with the title of Transatlantic Chocolate Truffles.. The book is available on Amazon and other booksellers..
She had a dollhouse collection which she enjoyed sharing with her granddaughter whom she adored. Her granddaughter called her “Omi”. Esther lived to be 94 years old. She died in Boston, MA, and is buried in the Kessler family plot with her parents, her sister and her sister’s husband in Wellwood Cemetery in West Babylon, NY.
She is in Section 2, Block 15, Division CEN, , Society Name: CONG OHAV ZEDEK.
Sources
- [1] Abe E. Kessler’s Passport Application in 1919 is from
- DetailNational Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1025; Volume #: Roll 1025 – Certificates: 154626-154999, 06 Jan 1920-06 Jan 1920Edit source
- Source information
- TitleU.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925AuthorAncestry.comNote<i>Selected Passports</i>. National Archives, Washington, D.C.<p><br>A full list of sources can be found <a href=”##SearchUrlPrefix##/search/dbextra.aspx?dbid=1174″ target=”_blank”>here.</a></p>PublisherAncestry.com Operations, Inc.Publisher date2007Publisher locationLehi, UT, USAEdit repository
- Repository information
- NameAncestry.com
- [2] Description of 1382 St. John’s Place, Brooklyn
- [3] Image of 1382 St. John’s Place, Brooklyn is from the Apartments.com website
- [4] Description of Crown Heights
- 5] Marriage Certificate of Esther to Philip Mason: Citation information
- DetailVirginia Department of Health; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia, Marriages, 1936-2014; Roll: 101142347Edit source
- Source information
- TitleVirginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014AuthorAncestry.comNoteVirginia, Marriages, 1936-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.PublisherAncestry.com Operations, Inc.Publisher date2015Publisher locationLehi, UT, USAEdit repository
- Repository information
- Name: Ancestry.com