Obituary of Esther Bigelow

Esther C. Bigelow, a woman devoted to her family , passed away after a long illness at the D’Youville Senior Care facility in Lowell on Monday morning, December 16, 2013. She was 78 years old. Esther was born in Boston, one of nine children born to the late John and Margaret McLean. She grew up in Waltham in a home full of excitement, laughter, and love. Esther met and married Charles Bigelow, Jr. and they settled in Burlington in 1965 to raise their 3 children. She worked as a bookkeeper prior to having children. Then she remained home with her children until they were all comfortably off to school. She then went back to work first as a temporary employee, then at BayBank, and finished her working career as a secretary at NYNEX. Esther’s life revolved around the care and support of her family. She loved to go ballroom dancing with her husband. She supported her children in their activities , which included driving them to all their activities, becoming a Girl Scout leader, and aco-founding the Burlington High School Band Boosters. Her warmth and kindness extended beyond her family to her neighbors and her children’s friends. In her leisure time, Esther enjoyed walking, reading, crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. Esther touched and influenced the lives of so many , and her memory will always remain in the hearts of those she loved. Esther was the beloved wife of the late Charles G. Bigelow, Jr. She was the caring and loving mother of Cheryl Magadieu & her husband John of Franklin, Charles G. Bigelow, III & his wife Erin of Burlington, and Bonnie Eldridge & her husband Eric of Tyngsboro. She was the proud grandmother of Zachary & Nicholas Eldridge and Holly & Emily Magadieu. She was the sister of John McLean of CA, Ann Keegan of CT, Margaret Tirone of Littleton, Dennis McLean of Westport, Daniel McLean of Sudbury, Robert McLean of PA, and the late Charles and Thomas McLean. Esther was also survived by many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington on Wednesday, December 18 at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Memorials in Esther’s name may be made to the Make A Wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Place, 2nd MA 02114 or www.massri.wish.org.