Esther Papp, retired businesswoman
Esther Papp, 94, of Phoenixville, Pa., passed away Thursday, April 14, 2011, from congestive heart failure. She was married to the late Louis Papp from Zapzony, Hungary in 1939, who passed away 11 years earlier on the exact same day
Esther is survived by her four children, Louis Papp and his wife Dorothy from Lewes, Elayne McGuire and husband Michael of Langhorne, Pa., Richard Papp and his wife Sandra of Collegeville, Pa. and Bryan Papp and wife Mimi from Creamridge, N.J.; and her sister Agnes Paul and her husband Gerald Paul of Phoenixville. She is also sadly missed by her eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Esther was a life-long resident of Phoenixville, particularly involved in the Hungarian community in a town that was a true melting pot of numerous ethnic groups in search of employment in difficult times. She was an employee of the Spring City Knitting Co., the Oaks Flag Co., AP DeSanno Grinding Wheel Co. and Papp’s Ice Service. In the latter business, she was instrumental in establishing, managing and actually delivering ice to virtually hundreds of customers.
Church participation and volunteerism were primary focuses in her life. She was a member of the first Hungarian Reformed Church in Phoenixville. As with all parishioners, she was actively involved in the building of the Hungarian church that is presently at 3rd and Main in Phoenixville in 1934. Membership in the church’s women’s guild, the choir the couples club were only a fraction of the organizations in which Esther volunteered to maintain the solvency of the church’s finances and the well-being of the Hungarian community.
In October of 1956, Hungary initiated military action against Communist rule. The Hungarians succeeded in voicing their desires to the entire word. They needed military assistance, but their requests fell on deaf ears. The Soviets in three days quashed the revolution leaving tens of thousands of freedom fighters dead. Our church in Phoenixville responded with charity. Again, Esther was an active participant. She helped gathering new clothes and toys form the business and people of Phoenixville to help the orphans of theses valiant freedom fighters. But, Esther took an additional step in actually volunteering to house and care for any child refugees who managed to make it to the United States. Not only did she provide sustenance but also church and educational aide until the United States could properly relocate these unfortunate refugees.
In her later years, Esther worked as a volunteer for the Phoenixville Hospital Thrift Shop. The purpose of this shop was to help the needy with affordable clothing and also support the Phoenixville Hospital. She was an active volunteer from 1978 until 2010.
Esther devoted her life to her family, church and community. Being a woman of minor financial means, she deeply affected and improved the lives of those who were needier than her. She embodied principles of a true Christian.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend her funeral service at the Parkside United Church of Christ, Main Street at Third Avenue, Phoenixville, at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 19. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. Russ Mitman. Burial will follow in the Morris Cemetery. Friends will be received at the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Main Street at Fifth Avenue, Phoenixville from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has respectively requested memorial contributions in Esther’s name be sent to the Parkside UCC Main Street and Third Avenue, Phoenixville, Pa 19460 and/or Chandler Hall Hospice 99 Barclay Street, Newtown, PA 18940-1593.
