Esther Good-Rehberg

Esther Good-Rehberg lived through nearly a century of change without ever losing sight of what mattered most: family, friendship, practicality, and simple joys.

Born Esther Matilda Pollex on May 13, 1934, in her family home in Honeoye Falls, New York, she was the daughter of German immigrants, Arthur and Frieda Pollex. Soon after her birth, the family moved to a farm in West Bloomfield, where Esther spent her childhood.

Life on the farm taught her resilience, but it was never where her heart truly belonged. She attended a one-room schoolhouse, helped preserve food from the garden, and plucked chickens—a chore she disliked so thoroughly that she hated to eat chicken for the rest of her life. Though she carried the work ethic and practicality those years instilled in her, she was always eager to see what lay beyond the farm fields.

Her eyes lit up when she spoke of entering the workforce. She fondly recalled administrative jobs that took her beyond rural life, where she wore heels, shared cocktails with colleagues, and embraced a wider world. She also worked at Nances Mustard and Richardsons and formed lifelong bonds with those she worked with. Later, she served the town of West Bloomfield, elected as the Town Clerk for several terms.

Esther married David Good in 1955, and together they built a home on a portion of the family farmland gifted by her parents. It was more than a house—it was the center of her world. There they raised their children, David and Deborah, and there Esther spent nearly the rest of her life, surrounded by generations of family and decades of memories.

Life asked much of Esther. She endured the loss of two husbands, a son, and a sister. She also mourned beloved lifelong friends and every one of her cherished shelties. Yet grief never defined her. Again and again, she found ways to rebuild.

After David's death in 1991, Esther opened a daycare in her home, hoping to spend more time with her granddaughters. What began as a practical decision became one of the great joys of her life. Before long, she was known simply as "Nanny" to countless children in West Bloomfield, offering care, comfort, and a steady presence that many still remember.

Then she found Clyde Rehberg, the love of her life. After some very tricky dating—thanks to her son and granddaughter's skepticism—she married Clyde in 1997. Together they spent their golden years exploring the country in their RV, creating new memories while never straying far from the values that grounded them. Whether traveling across the nation or sitting quietly at home watching the wildlife outside her window, Esther found happiness in simple pleasures and good company.

Nothing brought her greater joy than the people she loved.

Her happiest moments were spent around crowded tables and campfires, surrounded by family and friends. Annual camping trips, big summer picnics, weekly Sunday dinners with family, and Friday evening dinners with dear friends became treasured traditions. She kept a watchful eye on her daughter while she served in the Air Force and was stationed at various bases throughout the country, attended every event—big and small—she could for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and somehow made even ordinary days feel important simply by showing up.

Friendships mattered deeply to Esther. Some of her closest relationships stretched back to elementary school, lasting decades and weathering all that life could bring. She understood that family could be inherited, chosen, and gathered along the way, and she cared for each with equal devotion.

One of Esther's final wishes was to remain independent for as long as possible. She lived in the home she and David built for nearly her entire adult life. Only during the final weeks of her life did she leave it, moving in with her daughter, Deborah, whose care and companionship allowed her to remain surrounded by family until the end. On June 5, 2026, Esther passed away peacefully, having lived life on her own terms.

Esther is survived by her beloved daughter, Deborah Good; her sister, Frieda Smith; her brother-in-law, Lester Mastin; her daughter-in-law, Dawn Good; her granddaughters, Heather-Lyn (Andrew) Cotraccia and Hannah (Dave) Laurenza; her great-grandchildren, Layla and Johnathan Cotraccia; as well as many nieces, nephews, stepchildren, and step-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husbands, David Good and Clyde Rehberg; her son, David Good; her sister, Anita Mastin; her beloved and very yappy shelties, Heidi, Misty, and Abby; and many dear lifelong friends.

A farm girl who never quite loved farm life, a public servant, caregiver, traveler, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and "Nanny" to so many, Esther leaves behind a legacy measured not in accomplishments alone, but in the lives she touched. Her family will remember her strength. Her friends will remember her loyalty. And all who knew her will remember that no matter what life placed in her path, she always found a way forward—with German grit, grace, and love.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 2 PM at Little Lakes Wesleyan Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Esther's memory may be made to Long Island Shetland Sheepdog Rescue or Little Lakes Wesleyan Church.