Esther Carter Wenzel, was born in Donegal Twp., Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1928 to Charles and Marie (Cushing) Carter.   She attended Claysville Borough Schools until the 3rd grade when the family moved to Massillon in 1936 to work in the steel mills.  It was at Longfellow School when she picked up her brother's clarinet and taught herself to play. She was a 1946 graduate of Massillon Washington High School.   It was in the band program that she thrived.  In the 9th grade, she excelled and Mr. George Bird often included her in high school band performances .  She was a proud Three Star member of the Massillon Tiger Swing Band and so passionate about music that she followed George Bird to Cleveland and became a member of the Cleveland Browns Musical Majorettes.  Her scrapbook from this time is in the archives of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Shortly after moving to Massillon in 1936, the newspaper boy would throw stones at her and she would later marry him, Richard T. Wenzel, on September 30, 1950. Esther was a homemaker for most of her life, very active in St. Mary's PTA, where she will be remembered as one of the hot dog ladies and the milk token seller.  She was also active in the Massillon Tiger Swing Band parents when she designed the current Tiger band face logo as well as the 1970 and 1978 band uniforms.  She was also a member of the 3rd Order of St. Francis and later worked as head sacristan for 20 years at St. Mary's Church. Esther passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, peacefully at home. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; son-in-law, Dan Morris; her siblings, Charles (Dee) Carter, Paul (Evelyn) Carter, Joanne (Robert McGlynchey, Harold) Roseman, Jeanne (Glenn) McAfee, Julia (W. Arlen) Yoder, and Mary Jane (Dr. Herman) Bach; her in-laws, Clarence and Arline (Krisher) Wenzel, Winnie Wenzel, Jean (Frank) Dort, William (Gladys) Wenzel, James (Kate) Wenzel, Patricia (Thomas) Chalfant, and infant Robert Wenzel. Esther is survived by her children, Lois Wenzel of Chesterland, OH, Jean Morris of Massillon, Robert Wenzel of Massillon, Mary Joan Wenzel of Dover, OH,  James (Lori) Wenzel of Macomb Twp., MI, and David (Helaine) Wenzel of Massillon; grandchildren, Guy (Stephanie) Esposito, Frank Talafous, Christin Talafous, Catie (Tyler) Staruch, Charles (Kiersten) Wenzel, Samuel Wenzel, Madalyn Wenzel, Davin Wenzel, and Mallorie Wenzel; great-grandchildren, Marissa Blosfield, Nathan Talafous, Kyle Maguire, Matthew Talafous, Carlee Talafous, Ella Talafous, August (Allison) Esposito, and Makenna Esposito; great-great grandchild, Aurora Esposito; and special four-legged friend, Freddy. The family will receive family and friends on Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at Heitger Funeral Home - Massillon Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will follow beginning at 11 A.M. at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Mary's Church Campus.  Burial will be in the family plot at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. The family would like to thank her neighbors, The Muratides, The Stutzmans, The Crocks, The Throwers, and Suzy Studer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Divine Mercy/St. Mary's Organ Fund, 2809 Lincoln Way NW., Massillon, Ohio  44647. Please leave condolences for the family here on our tribute page. Heitger Funeral Home - Massillon Chapel  330-833-3248

St. Mary's Organ Fund
2809 Lincoln Way NW, Massillon OH 44647