Esther Diana Tingen

Feb 22, 1957 - Mar 2, 2008

Esther Tingen, 51, died Sunday, March 2, 2008 at Fairview Lakes Medical Center In Wyoming, Minnesota, surrounded by loving friends. Esther was the daughter of Mary Alice Smith Tingen and Eugene Tingen. Funeral services were held both in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and at Montlawn Cemetery in Raleigh, NC. Interment was at Montlawn. 

Some of you may remember that Esther's mother passed away when we were in 6th grade, not long after her family moved from the "country" (near Holland's Crossroads) to the "city" house on Ennis Street, just down the street from FVHS. I met Esther in Mrs Roger's 3-year-old Sunday School at the Fuquay Springs Baptist Church, and was her classmate in some form or another for the next 20+ years, but mostly she was my friend.

Esther was a pharmacist her entire professional life. At her death, she had been living in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area for several years, and before that, in Detroit, Michigan.

I last saw Esther in the fall of 2007 at the funeral of her Aunt, Delorese Smith Caviness.  Esther loved her Aunt Delorese, who was like a mother to her. Esther went to great lengths to visit and travel with her Aunt over the years; they took good care of each other. Although I saw Esther infrequently after she moved away, she was always the same (very) smart, kind soul I'd met so many years ago. She is missed.  

from her obituary:

"She grew up in Fuquay-Varina, NC, and graduated from the UNC School of Pharmacy. Her pharmacy career spanned multiple companies and touched many lives. She mentored friends and colleagues alike, helping them recognize their potential. She was an active member of Eagle Brook Church, Centerville, MN, an active gardener and traveller. Esther fought her battle with cancer with grace and dignity the same way she lived her life. She believed in investing in causes that make a difference."

Esther is buried at Montlawn Cemetery, Raleigh, NC, near her infant brother, mother and father.

extracted from Eagle Brook Church / Mueller Lake Mortuary / Pioneer Press obituary and remembrance written by Beth Ragan