Obituary of Esther H. Goodell

Esther H. Goodell, 91, passed away peacefully at her residence at Warner Bay, Bemus Point, on June 25, 2016. Esther Goodell was born on November 2, 1924, in Jamestown, the daughter of Otto H. Hjalmarson and Adelia A. Hjalmarson, who had immigrated to the United States from Sweden. She grew up on Hazeltine Avenue in Jamestown, was confirmed at First Mission Swedish Church (now known as First Covenant Church), and graduated from Jamestown High School. As a young woman, she was an avid tennis player during the summer and an ice skater during the winter, spending a great deal of time in Allen Park. In the early 1950's, Esther worked at WCA Hospital as a lab technician. In 1955, she and her husband, the late John L. Goodell, purchased property at Warner Bay near Bemus Point, where they built a small two-bedroom log cabin overlooking Chautauqua Lake. She left employment while she raised her five sons. Esther was legendary for her hospitality. Her home was a focal point for the neighborhood children because of the continuous activities, including swimming, boating, and a raft on Chautauqua Lake during the summer, sledding in the winter, and games and sports throughout the year. Her two oldest sons played in a rock-and-roll band that practiced at the house, to the enjoyment of the neighborhood children. In addition to her five sons, Esther opened her house for extended stays by various others, including several unrelated children. At least two children lived at her house for an entire year to finish high school when their parents moved to a new community. Others stayed for a few weeks to a few months during the summer. All were welcome. Sleeping accommodations were necessarily very informal. Although she rarely knew how many young people were staying for dinner, she always managed to find a way to feed everyone, sometimes assisted by the cases of Campbell soup stored in the basement. Her hospitality and generosity were also made possible by her equally legendary thriftiness, including the use of hand-me downs, careful shopping, and fresh food from her garden and from generous neighbors. Although she was normally very easy-going, she was adamantly against any alcoholic beverages in her house. In addition, no-one was allowed in the house in a wet bathing suit; everyone was required to change clothes in a nearby shed. In 1974, Esther returned to work as a phlebotomist at WCA Hospital, where she worked into her late 70s. She was particularly good at dealing with young children and older patients that were more difficult. Even today, she is fondly remembered by many staff in the medical field Esther always loved gardening, and was an amateur golfer and cross-country skier into her late 80's. For the last five years, Esther cared for her older sister, Svea Hjalmarson, who passed away on April 6, 2016, at the age of 98. Esther was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Svea Hjalmarson and Margaret Pickard, and niece Ann K. P. Nolloth. She is survived by her five sons, David (April) Goodell, Seattle, Washington; Thomas Goodell, St. Petersburg, Russia; Andrew (Lisa) Goodell, Falconer, New York; Rick (Amy) Goodell, Rexford, New York; and Daniel Goodell, Hamburg, New York. She is also survived by many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be on Friday, July 1, 2016, from 1-3 pm at Lind Funeral Home, a service at Lind at 3:00 pm, followed by internment at Lakeview Cemetery, then a reception at her residence. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the First Covenant Church, 520 Spring Street, Jamestown, New York 14701. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.