Esther Gladys Benner Longfellow

FARMINGDALE – Esther Gladys Benner Longfellow, 95, went to be with her Savior on May 21, 2025, surrounded by family at her Farmingdale home. Born in Hallowell on Jan. 14, 1930, to Fred W. and Gladys Warren Benner, Esther was the second of four children. She graduated from Hallowell High in 1947.

While singing in the choir at Old South Church in Hallowell, Esther caught the attention of Alden A. Longfellow, who had recently returned home from military service. They married on Oct. 8, 1949.

Esther worked for the state until they began a family and then was busy as a homemaker raising their seven children. The family raised flower and vegetable crops, developing their agricultural enterprise into a vibrant greenhouse and florist business. Esther and Alden were active in several local groups, including Old South Church in Hallowell, the Manchester Grange, and the Farmingdale Fire Department. Esther was the cooking and baking powerhouse behind many public baked bean suppers, lobster stew suppers, and other community events, including making pies and loaves of bread by the dozens, multiple gallons of baked beans and coleslaw, kettles of lobster stew, cakes, and molasses cookies.

From very early childhood, Esther excelled musically, including singing at gospel campmeetings, providing harmony at six years old to her older sister’s melody while their mother played piano. It was natural for her to sing with her own children, teaching harmonies and never passing up an opportunity to sing together even after they were grown with children of their own. Employees at the family greenhouse often enjoyed impromptu sing-alongs when any of her children were around. 

Esther’s faith established a firm foundation for the family, and her constant, quiet, and loving strength was the heart of this home. She was faithful to continuously sow good seeds, not only at the greenhouse but also by praying and sweetly showing kindness, compassion, and understanding to family, friends, and all she encountered. She never failed to offer encouraging words like “God loves you” and “Jesus is coming soon.”

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her sister Ellen Whalen and husband John, her brother Fred Benner and wife Eleanor, and her sister-in-law Roseanne Benner. 

She is survived by her brother Warren Benner; her children: Nancy Gervais, Alden R. Longfellow, Judy Longfellow, James Longfellow, Walter Longfellow, Jane Gilbert, and William Longfellow; her sons- and daughters-in-law: Paul Gervais, Kim Longfellow, Tammy Longfellow, Pamela Longfellow, Joel Gilbert, and Heather Longfellow; 29 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren with three more on the way; and Doreen Stevenson (Nana). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. 

Visiting hours will be 5 – 7 p.m., Friday, May 30, 2025, at Granite Hill Church in Hallowell. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Granite Hill Church, followed immediately by a brief time of fellowship and then a committal service at Carter Cemetery on Litchfield Road in Farmingdale.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com