Honeoye Falls:  Esther Little (Chesney) Kroeger of Pinehurst Senior Living Community in Honeoye Falls, NY died on July 15, 2023 at age 95.  She was born in Retsof, NY on November 11, 1927, the fourth of eight children of John Benton Little and Muriel (Hungerford) Little of Geneseo, NY.

She is survived by four of her five children:  Brenda Muriel (Dale) Eddy of Conesus, NY; Carole Anna (Bill Jr.) Derr of Morrill, Nebraska; Alfred Carl Kroeger of Manitou Springs, Colorado; and Douglas Austen Kroeger of Hemlock, NY; and is also survived by 3 grandchildren; Katherine Serio of Scottsburg, NY, Shana Crooks of Geneseo, NY, and Kevin MacConkey of Arizona; 8 great-grandchildren, Emma Rossborough, Bailey Rossborough, Hunter Serio, Colton Crooks, Shealyn Crooks, Cali Crooks, Sawyer Russell, and Corina MacConkey; sisters, Dorothy Kelliher of Ballston Spa, NY and Shirley (Thomas) Koester of  Fort Meyers, FL; sister-in-law Phyllis Yorks Little of Canastota, NY; also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Besides her parents Esther was predeceased by her oldest daughter Gayl Marie Chesney of Chugwater, Wyoming; her husbands, George Chesney of Shortsville, NY and Julius Kroeger of East Bethany, NY; her oldest sibling, John Merton Little and his wife, Virginia (Woodhams), of Groveland, NY; her oldest sisters, Agnes Eileen Hoover and her husband, Charles of Cohocton, NY; Carol Luella Claud and her husband, Edward, of Groveland, NY; and a younger sister, Elsie Jane Jordan and her husband, Richard, of Oxnard, California; and younger brother Allan Little of Canastota.

Esther was a 1948 graduate of Geneseo State Teachers’ College (now State University of New York at Geneseo.)  She was a librarian for 32 years; at a college library, two school libraries, then Director of the Henrietta New York Public Library for 15 years.  She retired as an Assistant Director of the Monroe County Public Library System in Rochester, NY in 1982.

In 1991 Esther traveled out west and lived in Colorado, Arizona, and Wyoming.  She was a member of the Torrington, Wyoming United Methodist Church and an active member of the United Methodist Women’s Group there.  She was a Certified Lay Speaker from 1986 (In New York) to 2006 (in Wyoming.)  She was also an active member of the Torrington Wyoming “Women of the Moose” Chapter 2009.  In 2014 she moved back to New York State.

Esther has always loved Mother Nature, spending many years traveling all over the United States; tent camping, attending Elderhostel programs and visiting many of the country’s parks and scenic wonders.  She crewed in a racing Snipe sailboat with her husband, Julius, for ten years.  She read everything she could get her hands on, crocheted lap robes and afghans for several charities, and for several years was a professional clown named “Buttercup.”

At Esther’s request no calling hours or funeral services will be held.  Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Conesus United Methodist Church, PO Box 129, Conesus, NY 14435 or the South Livonia United Church of Christ, 5087 South Livonia Road, Livonia, NY 14487.  To send a condolence or share a memory please visit:  www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com