Ethel Florence (Pennington) Mesecher

Ethel Florence Pennington Mesecher, 95, of Reston, Virginia passed away peacefully on Friday, June 14, 2019 at her residence at Tall Oaks Assisted Living. She was born July 9, 1923, to William Jennings and Elsie May Pennington. Unfortunately, William died just before Ethel was born. Elsie subsequently married James Long, and Ethel was raised with her two half-brothers, Wayne and Kenneth, and two half-sisters, Barbara and Elanor. All have preceded her in death. Ethel married Howard Mesecher on November 7, 1942, and they lived in Davenport, Iowa until 1972 when they relocated to Fresno, California. Ethel transferred from the Massachusetts Mutual office in Davenport to the office in Fresno where she worked until her retirement after 25 years. In 1990, Ethel and Howard moved to Highland Springs Country Club in Cherry Valley, California where they were joined by Howard’s sister, Ruth Bunten and her husband Jim Bunten. Both Ethel and Howard were very active in the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Churches in Beaumont and Banning, California. Ethel belonged to the Ladies Guild, Catholic Daughters, ran a gift shop, participated in services and took communion to house-bound or ill members. She also volunteered in the church office. Ethel was a member of the Highland Springs Country Club with Howard and enjoyed playing golf with Ruthie and Jim. She sang in the Community Singing group directed by Howard. She really loved to bake and was known for her pies, cookies, breads and other treats for bake sales. Ethel moved to Vienna, Virginia to live with her son, Donald Mesecher and his wife, Katherine Goudreau in 2016. After a hospital stay in 2017, Ethel moved to the Tall Oaks Assisted Living facility in Reston, Virginia. She continued to be very active at the facility and even had her own baking demonstration, “Ethel’s Cooking Corner”, once a month for the other residents. She enjoyed the many activities that took place at the facility and in the community. Until the last few months she also sang in a choir that Katherine directed. She will be greatly missed by her family as well as the many friends in California and the residents and staff at Tall Oaks. Ethel is survived by three children, Thomas Mesecher (Sharon), of Casper, Wyoming, Donald Mesecher (Katherine Goudreau), of Vienna, Virginia, Jacque Linebarger (David), of Fayetteville, Arkansas and former daughter-in-law Peggy Mesecher of College Station, TX. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Howard on December 3, 2008, and three of her daughters, Theresa Jean Mesecher. Shirley Ann Wulf, and Rosalie Christine Mesecher. There will be a visitation at the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Beaumont at noon on July 1, 2019 followed by a mass at 1:00. The reception will follow at the hall at the Beaumont church. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to the SKT Ladies Guild at 1234 Palm Ave., Beaumont, CA 92223.

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