Esther Lassiter
Esther Lassiter died peacefully on Sunday surrounded by her family.
Esther Lassiter was born Esterbina Perez Torres in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, on 15 March 1918. Her father was Antonio Torres, and her mother was Brigida Perez Torres. She spent her childhood in Puerto Rico with two brothers and two sisters, where her father owned a large sugar plantation. Her father was active in local politics and religion. She was introduced to politics as a child. Her father's home was always filled with: religious leaders, doctors, lawyers, writers, poets, politicians and world travellers. She loved politics, especially strategies and debates.
Mrs. Lassiter met her husband Arthur L. Lassiter, Sr., while in college and he was serving in the United States Army in Puerto Rico. They had a loving marriage of more than 50 years. In their 50 years of marriage, the couple had one child. Arthur Lee Lassiter, Jr. who was born in 1946, in Havre De Grace, Maryland. Her steadiness and courage during her husband's illness and after is death won her admiration from family and friends. During World War II, she lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and was instrumental in the capture of a German spy posing as a rooming house owner. When asked how did you suspect her of being a spy she said "she asked to many questions about troop movements and ship departures and stayed on the phone endlessly".
Mrs. Lassiter was a model parent, she believed that good citizens were the result of good parenting.
She is survived by her son, A. Lee Lassiter, Jr and his wife, Hope Weeks Lassiter, two granddaughters, Jill Lassiter Knowles Brian Knowles and Kim Lassiter Wright Kevin Wright and three great-grandchildren, Parker & Wesley Wright and Julia Knowles.
Graveside Service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 23, 2011 in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel