Esther Blessing

With deep reverence, we celebrate the life of Esther "Violet" Blessing, a woman of immense strength and resilience, who departed this world on August 16, 2023. Born on April 9, 1924, in Whitley County, Indiana, Violet's compelling journey of 99 years was marked with unfathomable dedication, loyalty, and thoughtfulness that touched all who were privileged to know her. She made her home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she was a respected figure in the automotive manufacturing industry, personifying hard work, commitment, and diligence. In the words of Maya Angelou, "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. It may even be necessary to encounter the defeat, so that you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." Violet's life was a testament to her indomitable spirit, a beacon of hope for her loved ones. As a factory worker at Dana, she was the backbone of her family, providing for them even in the toughest of times. Her daughters, Linda McKinley, and Barbara McKinley; her granddaughters, Lisa McKinley, and Melissa McKinley; and her three great-grandchildren, Noel, Nicole, and Christian, survive her. They remember her as a pillar of strength, whose resilience saw them through any storm. Preceding her in death were her loving husband of 38 years, Richard Blessing; her parents, Albert and Maude (Davis) Jeffries; her siblings, Jesse Jeffries, Frona Cochren, Clara Reinking, and Perry Jeffries. The family invites you to honor Violet's life on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco Chapel. The family will be present for public visitation from 11:00 am to noon, followed by the funeral service at noon. Burial will take place at Eel River Cemetery, immediately following funeral services. As we celebrate Violet's life, let us remember the words of Vincent Van Gogh, "The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore." Let Violet's life inspire us to brave the storms with courage and resilience.