Myra was born in Philadelphia, PA on October 10, 1923 and passed away on November 19, 2021 after celebrating her 98th birthday. She would say she had a good and purposeful life.
Her funeral service will be held Thursday, December 2nd at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church at 2140 Westheimer Rd. in Houston, TX.
She is survived by her three daughters, Janice Zinn and husband Gary, Barbara Thurman and husband Dave, Andrea Leonard and husband Kenton. She was blessed to have five granddaughters and one grandson; Kae Frost Climo, Mari Kristen Frost, Heather Bragg, Hester Brianna Maray, Rachel Rathbern and David Thurman. And finally fourteen great-grandchildren; Cameron, Reagan, Griffen, Meagan, Jacob, Berkley, Tyler, Justin, Lauren, Eli, Waylon, Hayden, Eli and Dallas.
She is predeceased by her parents, Ralph and Theresa Junfola, nine brothers and sisters, and the love of her life, Bill Hester.
In 1943 she married Bill Hester in Philadelphia and moved to Texas in 1947. She and Bill moved to West University soon after where she resided until she decided, after 68 years in the same house, it was time for a change and chose Brookdale Senior Living, in West University, so she could be close to St. Anne's Catholic Church, where she had been a member since 1947. She is still very active in the church and was honored to be a Sacristan in the Altar Society and President of the Ladies Guild.
She worked for several years at Battleteins, River Oaks as a buyer. She didn't mind hard work and had a keen and curious mind and never stopped pursuing education and knowledge. After her youngest child was born, she began her life as a homemaker and became active in volunteering and community service. She really found her purpose throughout her life when she discovered that there were many ways she could lend a hand.
Myra joined the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 77 in 1953 and immediately became very involved in their programs. She was elected to various offices in the Auxiliary and was ultimately elected as the Texas State President in 1968 and National Vice President in 1981. In 1953, she and other members in the auxiliary formed a group to raise money for M.D. Anderson's "East Wing" Children's Hospital. They raised $50,000 towards that endeavor. She said that was not easy in those days and they worked very hard to accomplish their goal. Myra was a founding member of the Auxiliary Fellowship Program at the Graduate School of Bio-Medical Sciences. She was privileged to have assisted in the "Groundbreaking" ceremony and is invited to the annual luncheon, which she would never miss. To date, over 125 fellows have been granted.
She was proud when she became a Staff Member of Bluebonnet Girls State in 1967, and from 1967 to 2021, she was a very active member of that organization. She loved the women that she worked with and the girls that she met at the annual camp held each summer in Seguin. I think a lot of the young women that she met will remember her. She was still planning to work the camp this year. At the same time she was a member of Christian Community Service Center for thirty years and loved being a part of their back to school and jingle bell programs.
You can tell that Myra never believed in "idle hands and not being the very best you can be." In her final years she enjoyed Brookdale and the people that lived and worked there. She could be seen every morning walking, checking on people that she heard were not well. It brought her great joy to be needed and productive even though she was 98 years old, no one could believe her energy and health. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her daughters got the daily call, asking "is everyone doing alright, or is there anything I can do to help?"
Myra's final note to her daughters read, "Girls, do not have me linger here, unwell and not have any meaningful human activity, just let me go in peace. Do not cry for me - rejoice."