This is the story of Esther Louise Rew (Nana) Boots. Nana was a wonderful woman that was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. Our “Nana,” as she liked to be called by her grandchildren, “Boots,” as she was called by close friends, she was an amazing wife, mom, daughter, cousin, aunt and mother-in-law and a collector of gems and all things for the holidays, like no other could be.

Nana’s story starts on April 25, 1941, the middle child to 3 brothers, Ronnie, Jimmy and David and 2 sisters Doris and Linda. Esther was born in Wilmington Delaware.

When Esther was still little, Ralph and Mildred moved their ever so growing family to Gordy Estates in Wilmington Delaware where Esther would spend her childhood growing up, make many lifelong friends, and go to (Henry C.) Conrad High School, located in Woodcrest. She was very proud of her school colors of grey and scarlet. She loved to watch the renowned “Conrad Redskins Band” as they marched through the community wearing their traditional school colors and an Indian headdress as part of their uniform.

Wilmington is where Esther would meet and marry Wayne Bateman. Esther was dating a boy who was selling a car. Wayne answered the ad, bought the car and asked “Does the girl come with the car?!!” As it turned out, she did! They were soon married on July 19th 1962 and she lived with her husband Wayne and their 2 daughters Carol and Dawn in Maryland for approximately 33 years until she and Wayne divorced. Once again, she began her newly found life and went back to her roots, to Harrington Delaware.

Nana loved camping. She loved a nice cozy fire. She loved animals. She never met a stranger. She was outspoken and courageous. That’s what most people admired about her. She was a hot mess. She was outrageous. She was a stunning beauty. She was a brave and fearless woman. A very strong lady. She was very transparent. If she liked you, you knew it. If she didn’t like you, you knew that too. She would give you her honest opinion if you asked her so if you really didn’t want to know, don’t ask her. She’d give you her shirt off her back. She loved her granddaughters and told each one of them separately “you’re my favorite, but don’t tell the rest”. She loved each and every one of her grand babies too. All six. She loved her family and her siblings.

She loved Elvis Presley. She’s been to Graceland. She had a special Christmas dinner for her whole family plus anyone else who wanted to come. She say “Hell yeah, bring ‘em!! She was renowned for her cooking and baking skills and never had any trouble finding a bargain at Walmart or the Dollar Store. Carol called her “The Dollar Store Queen” She spent many late nights watching JTV {Jewelry TV} for a great deal on jewelry, but if she wanted it, it was always “a great deal”

She loved her favorite sister-in-law Diana Rew. Spoke to her every morning for the past 7 years since Diana moved to Mississippi. She and Diana had many secrets and have lots of stories to tell about each other. She loved shopping with her sister Linda and or her best friend Jean Mueller. They would go to eat, shop at the Dollar Store, Walmart, Produce Junction, Sams Club or wherever they’d want to go. Esther (Nana) never sat still. Carol would call her and say “I’ve been calling you for 2 days.. Where have you been? I’ve been worried!” Nana would say “Whada ya want? I’ve been busy shopping and running around with my buddies!” She always made a joke of everything. Always laughing.

Everyone always knew they would have plenty of homemade delicious food while visiting and she would always make sure your favorite dishes for the holidays was made and hand delivered. Be careful of what you tell her you like. She is a people pleaser and once you tell her you like something, that’s it. You get it for eternity, as she was a people pleaser. She was the biggest giver of gifts and of her heart, even if you didn’t know you wanted it, you we getting it anyway. Her family always remembers many pans of turkey, pineapple, clove and maraschino cherry laced hams, chicken and mashed potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, and green beans. Mimi’s (her mother–in-law) special Lima bean soup was always a favorite. If Nana hadn’t made something and she found out you loved it, you would never want for that special dish ever again.

The Christmas Holiday was always her favorite times and always had a house full of decorations for each occasion. She loved Frosty the Snowman. She had 14 rotating Christmas trees, each with different colors and decoration scheme. Halloween was probably her 2nd favorite. She loved skulls, witches, especially spiders. No matter what the holiday, she would go to Carol’s house and to each granddaughter’s house to distribute prizes to everyone for the occasion. Easter time she’d bring, egg dye, clingy window stickers etc. Halloween was about the same but it was clingy window stickers, pumpkin carving utensils, candy etc., Christmas was an overload of stuff, there’s no words for the things shed give to the kids.

In 1962, her first daughter Carol Lynn Bateman was born and in 1966 her second daughter Dawn Melinda Bateman was born. Esther was a stay at home mom and tried to always make a happy home for her children and their friends. All the girls’ friends loved “Aunt Boots”. She was the neighborhood mom. Her home was a gathering place for everyone. Esther, no matter what always welcomed all visitors with something warm to eat and a pleasant smile to make them feel loved and welcomed in her home. Nana always loved to look and be around the ocean, the beach or anything water related and truly loved the beauty of lighthouses and always was looking for an excuse to head to the ocean.

Esther loved being with her family and would go to the ends of the earth for them. Making her family happy brought the most joy to her and providing endless surprises and gifts and everyone knew Elvis had a special place in her heart. Nana’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her heart and joy. There’s no denying that, her grand babies as she called them, were the people that she loved the most. She would light up the room with her smile whenever she would see them. Time spent at Nana’s house was very special for her and her grand babies, she would spoil with her love and it was never a dull moment when everyone was together. I would be remiss if I didn’t say her favorite son-in-law was Jonathan Smith and they were two peas in a pod. Carol would always say, yea-yea mom I know Jonathan is your favorite son-in law, he’s coming to see you and she would get a hug smile on her face, again lighting up the room.

Loved ones that will always live in her path - for Carol and her sister Dawn Melinda Bateman (12/06/1966–10/28/2000) who Nana is with now. Loved ones that will miss “Nana Boots” until they meet her and Dawn again are; her daughter Carol Lynn Bateman Baker Smith, her son-in-law Jonathan Smith, their daughter Samantha Lynn Smith and Alexa Dawn Baker. Her 1st grand daughter Jessica Taylor and her husband Benjamin Taylor, their 3 children, Ben, Zachary, and Grace. Her 2nd Grand daughter Cristina Dawn Cucina and Aaron Cucina (son-in-law) and their 3 children Gianni, Stephanie and Sofia. Her parents, Ralph Brooks Rew and Mildred Frances Rew pre deceased her. Along with her brother Jimmy Rew and David Rew who both pre deceased her as well. She also leaves behind her 3 other wonderful siblings, Doris Rew Bowen, Ronald Rew and baby sister, Linda Rew Williams. She also leaves behind many nephews and nieces, all of whom she loved without any doubt. And so the story goes on until we see our Nana and our Bootsie again. We love you and miss you forever and always Mom.