Esther was born on June 12,1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Alex and Julia Toth. She was the second child, having an older sister, Ruth. Her early childhood years were spent in the tiny Hungarian village of Otthon, Saskatchewan surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins who lived on surrounding farms.
At the age of seven, the family moved to Los Angeles, California so her parents could attend Aimee Semple McPherson’s LIFE Bible College. The next five years were often referred to by Esther as the happiest years of her life. While living there, the girls were immersed in life at Angelus Temple. It was there that, at the age of seven, Esther made the life-changing decision to acknowledge Jesus Christ as her Savior and make Him the Lord of her life – a decision from which she never wavered. She and her sister were baptized in water by Sister Aimee. Esther took lessons in violin, ukulele, and public speaking and played in the children’s orchestra at the Temple.
One very unpleasant experience while living in LA, was a devastating earthquake. Esther’s sister, Ruth, was practicing piano and got thrown off the piano bench. Esther, who was sitting at a desk, got her knees pinned under the desk with the heaving floor. The family was somehow able to help each other to the door and get out into the street. There they saw many brick buildings crumble but they were safe. This shocking experience was not enough to dim Esther’s love for the area. She thoroughly enjoyed life in southern California – the beauty of the parks, palm trees and beaches, and the activity of life in general. She also developed a lasting love for foods such as avocados, tamales, limes, artichokes and black olives.
All too soon the “glory years” were over and at the age of twelve, Esther and the family had to move back to the bald prairies of Canada. This proved to be quite a culture shock and traumatic experience for Esther, attending school in a one-room schoolhouse. However, she adapted, and at age seventeen left home to attend Grenfell Apostolic Bible College. After one year, she transferred to Bethel Bible Institute in Saskatoon and finished her education there.
The following years were spent pastoring churches in small Saskatchewan towns along with various co-workers, some being Eunice Meyer, Doris Falconer, and her sister, Ruth. Some of the towns were Ormside, Radisson, Preeceville and Pense. She played guitar, which probably came in handy during those years, and she also did much of the preaching. Esther had many varied experiences during this time – even spending a bleak prairie winter living in a cabin with no insulation!! When her father found out about the living conditions, he contacted the district superintendent, Jack Brooks. Without notice, he arrived with a horse-drawn sleigh, told the girls to pack up their things, and got them out of there!
In 1946 Esther was asked to come to Cloverdale to pastor the newly established Pentecostal church. The first day she stepped into the church she was destined to meet her life partner. There was a Youth for Christ orchestra practice going on and the leader was Claude Adams. This began a four-year courtship. Toward the end of those four years, Esther left pastoring and, along with her co-worker, Nadine Beitel, traveled all over BC holding Vacation Bible Schools. Many children’s lives were changed as a result of this.
For a short time, Esther went to live with her parents who by now lived in Mission, BC. While there, she worked at Eaton’s and attended the Pentecostal church. Her sister, Ruth, married Bert Gaglardi from this church, and then in 1950, Claude and Esther were also married in the same church by the very pastor who years earlier, had rescued her from that freezing cabin in Saskatchewan. Claude and Esther spent their honeymoon in Los Angeles and while there, attended the first ever meeting of the Full Gospel Businessmen with founder, Demos Shakarian. Claude had a house built for them on New McLellan Road (now 56th Avenue) in Langley, and after their honeymoon, they moved into their new home.
In 1937 Claude had helped Jennie Gaglardi and Laurene Drury in the establishment of Langley Pentecostal Church (now Christian Life Assembly). So since Claude was well established there, Esther joined him in making that her church home. They were both quite involved – Esther becoming church pianist, and teaching Sunday School and Claude playing accordion in the orchestra and teaching Sunday School. They were both involved in the church street meetings as well.
In 1952 Esther gave birth to their first child, Lorna Bernice, and in 1955, Richard Wesley completed the family. During their growing up years, Esther was a stay-at-home mom, but she continued to be active in the church leading a girls’ group, being part of the Women’s Missionary Council, being a Crusader leader, singing in the choir, and just generally helping out wherever needed.
Esther was a wonderful hostess, always wanting to make people feel welcome in her home and making sure that no one was feeling left out or lonely. She was a great homemaker, working tirelessly to make sure the house was spotless and regularly preparing meals for guests. She was famous for her apple pies which were the absolute best! Esther hosted numerous missionaries, evangelists and Bible college students in her home for meals or overnight.
Along with her husband, she was a generous giver. They loved to give to their church, to missions, and to various worthy causes and individuals.
When the children reached high school age, Esther worked part time at several jobs. She worked at the Evangel Book Store in downtown Langley, sold Avon, was a teacher’s assistant at Sunbeam Nursery School, was a receptionist for Dr. Pieter Brouwer, and worked in men’s wear at Woodwards. She loved all her jobs.
During Esther’s life, she and her husband enjoyed travel. Not only did they make many trips back to LA and Saskatchewan to visit friends and relatives, but they visited many states, made several trips to Hawaii, visited Mexico, England, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Jordan, and made three trips to Israel – a land that they both loved passionately.
In Esther’s senior years, she not only continued to be involved in her church, but she took on volunteer jobs which she loved. She worked as a meet-and-greet hostess at Langley Memorial Hospital for sixteen years and she also worked in the chapel at the Vancouver International Airport. Besides this, she spent countless hours visiting the sick and elderly at Langley Lodge and other places. Along with her husband, Esther was a life member of the Canadian Bible Society and the Gideons International in Canada.
Esther was a great lover of music all of her life – especially the hymns, gospel songs, and American patriotic songs. She had a lovely singing voice and in her younger years, sang solos at weddings or in church services. Some of the happiest times of her life involved music. She would never miss an opportunity to attend a hymn sing, Christmas concert, or any other special performance. She was blessed that in her last years, Class Brass Gospel Band held their weekly practices right in her own home. She was in her glory right in the middle of the music, clapping along or singing.
One of the greatest loves of Esther’s life was her three grandsons, Greg, Jordan and Fraser. They brought great joy to her, brightening her life with their humour and all the laughter they brought to her home. She thoroughly enjoyed preparing meals and baking for them. Never one to shy away from activity, even in her eighties Esther always wanted to be where the action was. Fourth of July found her sitting on the beach at Birch Bay surrounded by sparks and booms, excitedly watching as her grandsons lit a myriad of fireworks.
Even in her nineties Esther continued to attend any function that was going on – especially church services and seniors’ events. In fact, she was the oldest member of Christian Life Assembly and at the time of her passing had attended there for over seventy years. Yes, Esther was a goer and if the car was moving, she wanted to be in it!
In the last years of her life, Esther was blessed with two great grandchildren, Alex and Aubrey, whom she loved and adored immensely. It was heart-warming to see the joy on her face and the sparkle in her eyes when they would visit.
Esther was an energetic, bright, and caring person who loved people, and it showed. The world is a better place because of her.
It is so comforting to know that, because of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, she is now enjoying the presence of God with loved ones who have gone before and awaiting those yet to come.
Esther is predeceased by her husband, Claude Adams, parents Alex and Julia Toth, sister Ruth Gaglardi Gibson, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by daughter Lorna, son Rick (Kim), grandsons Greg (Andrea), Jordan (Courtney), Fraser (Gabrielle), their mother Gaye Adams, great grandchildren Alex and Aubrey Adams, and step-grandsons Zachary and Griffin Goldsmith.
Bibles may be placed in memory of Esther through The Gideons International in Canada ($3.00 per Bible). You may send a check made out to the Gideons to Lorna Adams, 6327 - 192 Street, Surrey, BC V3S 8E1.
There will be a service for Esther available to be viewed on YouTube toward the end of November.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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