Esther Mardell Mazza, 84, of formerly of Seneca, died on April 12, 2020 at Republic, Missouri.

Mardell was born on December 21, 1935, in Danville, Illinois, the daughter of Fred E. and Esther M. Robey Willkie. She attended school at Evansville until her senior year. She worked various office positions in Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

On May 14, 1955 Mardell married Michael S. Mazza in Kansas City, Missouri. The couple raised three children. In February 2006, Michael and his wife moved to Seneca to be close to their granddaughter Kelly Schmelzle. The couple celebrated 51 years of marriage before Michael’s death on February 22, 2007.

Mardell was a caring and nurturing woman who enjoyed being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother—her family was everything to her. She also enjoyed playing bingo, playing cards, word searches and just enjoying the outdoors.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherry Scott on February of 2009 and her siblings, Ed Willkie and John Willkie.

She is survived by her daughter, Cathy Harper of Springfield, Missouri; her son, Frank Mazza of Independence, Missouri; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held on July 25, 2020 at 10 AM at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca.