(June 10, 1916-March 22, 2001)

POTSDAM--Esther E. VanKennen, 84, formerly of Mayfield Apartments and Norwood, died Thursday in St. Regis Nursing Home, Massena.

 Mrs. VanKennen was a homemaker.

 Born June 10, 1916, in Gardner, Mass., daughter of the Rev. Arthur and Wilhelmina Kangas Virta, she was a 1934 graduate of Gardner High School. She married William F. VanKennan on Oct. 18, 1946, at the home of her parents in Gardner. He died June 4, 1994.

 She was a member of the First Congregational Church, Norwood.

 Surviving are two sons, William R., Massena, and Gary K., Norfolk; a daughter, Kathleen VanKennen Page, Grafton, Mass.; two brothers, William Virta, Gardner, Mass., and Oliver Virta, Pownal, Vt.; two sisters, Mrs. Ivan (Martha) Wing, Norfolk, and Ruth Virta, Boston, Mass., seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

 Four brothers, Herbert, Rolf, Todd and Ray Virta, and a sister, Ellen Virta, died before her.

 A memorial service will be 3 p.m. March 31 at the First Congregational Church, Norwood, with the Rev. Genevieve M. Dox officiating. Burial will be in Bixby Cemetery, Norfolk.

 There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are with Seymour Funeral Home.

 Donations may be made to the First Congregational Church Memorial Fund or Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, Pierrepont Avenue, Potsdam, N.Y. 13676.

(Taken from the Friday, March 23, 2001 edition of the Watertown Daily Times, page 29).