IN MEMORIAM: Dulce G. Jester, 70;

Past President Of Otego F.D. Auxiliary

OTEGO – Dulce Guadaloupe Jester, 70, who was active in the Otego Fire Department Auxiliary, rising to president, as a young woman in Otego, passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, after a long battle with lung cancer and COPD.  Had She lived in Winston-Salem, N.C., since 1996.

She was born Oct. 11, 1949, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Frances Christina Sleam and Antonio Rivis Piedra. She was raised in Otego by her grandparents and the only mother and father she ever acknowledged, John and Verna (Hannah) Breitenbach.

She graduated in 1967 from Otego High School, before it merged to form Unatego Centra.

On June 25, 1982, she married the love of her life, Glenn F. Jester, Jr. and was married to him until his death in October 2014.

She gave countless hours of service volunteering for the Otego Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, serving as secretary, vice president, and president. She served as the captain of the Lady Marchers of the Otego Ladies Auxiliary.

She was very community minded and was always willing to lead the way in service when needed. She was a natural leader and very good at organizing events and people. She volunteered her time as her daughter’s Girl Scout troop leader for one year, and upon moving to North Carolina, she volunteered at Senior Services in Lexington, N.C.

Her kind and thoughtful heart checked in on the sick and elderly, sent cards, visited friends and family in the hospital, and was always willing to lend a hand to assist friends and family in their time of need.

Prior to her divorce from her first husband, Paul H. Church, Jr., she worked maintaining the books for their business. In 1980, she joined the business department at Fox Hospital, where she worked until moving to North Carolina in 1996.

After enjoying some time off, she maintained the books for the company she and her husband, Glenn F. Jester, Jr., owned and did so until she went to work with her daughter at the Best Western Inn of Lexington, N.C.

She continued to work at the Best Western Inn until her first grandson, Gavin, was born. Then, taking care of her grandchildren was the most valuable and loving work of her life. Being with her grandchildren while their parents worked was her most treasured time.

She was an avid reader and very passionate about books, reading 5-7 weekly until the week before she died. Her favorite books were crime and mystery novels; her favorite author was James Patterson.

She believed in community and loved volunteering when she could. She felt very strongly about family and loved all of her friends that became her chosen family.

Dulce is survived by her daughter, Toni Becker and her husband, Shayne Becker of Winston-Salem, N.C.; her first husband, Paul H. Church, Jr. of Wells Bridge; her son, Charles Church and his wife Cassidy of New Milford, Pa.; her grandchildren, Gavin Becker and Savannah Becker of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Cody Church, Dalton Church, Cassidy Church and Carson Church of New Milford, Pa. She is also survived by many friends that hold her dear in their hearts.

Dulce was predeceased by her parents (grandparents), John and Verna Breitenbach; her husband, Glenn F. Jester, Jr.; her son, Jon J. Church; and her sister by choice, Linda (Crandall) Perry (Pooh).

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Westcott-Madden Funeral Home, 123 Main St., Unadilla, with the Rev. Randolph Palada of Gilbertsville officiating.  Interment will be later in the spring at a graveside burial in Oneonta Plains Cemetery.

The family will be in attendance at the Sixth Ward Athletic Club following the funeral. All are welcome.

In honor of Dulce, donations can be made to one of the following places that have provided her with care and service over the years: Cancer Services of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Trellis Supportive Care (Hospice) of Winston-Salem, N.C.; or Senior Services, Inc. of Winston-Salem, N.C.  Online condolences may be made at:   www.wmaddenfh.com.  Arrangements by the Westcott-Madden Funeral Home 123 Main Street Unadilla.