Esther M. Stege, 78, of Vero Beach died unexpectedly on Monday, February 6, 2012 in Fort Pierce.

Mrs. Stege was born June 28, 1933 in Matteson, IL. She had been a resident of Vero Beach for 31 years, coming from Matteson.

She ran Esther's Catering for over 20 years.

Mrs. Stege was a parishioner at Grace Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Evening Circle, greeted visitors and headed the kitchen administration for many years.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Norbert P. Stege; sons, Larry M. Stege of Houston, TX and Glenn N. Stege of Port Saint Lucie; daughter, Lolita L. Moser of Batavia, IL; sister, Ella Eckhoff of Manteno, IL; brother, Martin Bruder of Matteson, IL; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services: Visitation will be held from 4-6 PM on Friday, February 10, 2012 at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home in Vero Beach. A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Grace Lutheran Church in Vero Beach. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory in Vero Beach. Online condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.

Esther was born with her twin sister on June 28th, 1933, the daughter of Martin and Hulda Bruder.

Esther was brought into the Christian faith and made a child of God through Holy Baptism by Pastor Heiber at Immanuel Lutheran Church on July 15, 1933. She was confirmed at Immanuel on March 30, 1947, with her given Scripture verse being Psalm 37:4, "Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart"

The family farm was where Esther spent her childhood. At age 16, Esther lost her mother in a tragic car accident. She later worked for years at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago.

On June 6, 1954, Esther married Norbert Stege. Esther is survived by her loving husband Norbert, three children (Larry, Lolita, and Glenn), 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, her sister Ella, her brother Martin, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Esther will be remembered most for her "servant heart" as a faithful follower of our Lord.