Kerr

Esther B. Kerr, 87, of Bethany Village, Mechanicsburg, formerly of Butler, died Saturday evening while surrounded by her family at the Harrisburg Hospital.

Born July 16, 1922, in Pittsburgh, she was a daughter of the late Paul and Frances Barzanti.

She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class at Freedom High School in Freedom and also received a bachelor's degree in education from Duquesne University in 1944.

She taught business education at Freedom area schools from 1944 until 1949. After moving to Butler, she was a substitute teacher at Butler Catholic School and Butler High School.

She was a member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler, the St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers, the Pennsylvanians for Human Life, and the former Cana Club, was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and Lifeline of Butler County and was a life member of the Tanglewood Center. She enjoyed playing bridge in several card clubs.

Surviving are three sons, John M. Kerr and his wife, Jeanne, of New Cumberland, Pa.; Thomas S. Kerr, and his wife, Baja, of Murrysville and Daniel P. Kerr, and his wife, Lori, of Lancaster; a daughter, Dr. Mary Beth Kerr, M.D., and her husband, Christopher Heathcote, of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; seven grandsons; a granddaughter; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur F. Kerr, who died Oct. 25, 1990; her son, Dennis P. Kerr, who died in 1995; and a sister, Sue Barberini.

<B>KERR</B> — Friends of Esther B. Kerr, who died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Entombment will follow in the mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery.The St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:35 a.m. Thursday at the church to recite the rosary.Additional information can be found and condolence messages placed at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.