Esther Louise Nelson, age 89, a resident of Covenant Living at Windsor Park in Carol Stream, IL went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 26, 2025. She was born on August 29, 1935, in Washington DC to E. Walter and Frances Hiley.

An avid student, Esther graduated a year early, from Eastern High School, in Baltimore, MD. After high school, she attended Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL and the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD. She then met the love of her life, Paul Nelson, while he was serving in the Army at Fort Detrick, MD. Esther and Paul married, in 1955, and lived happily together for over 70 years, cherishing each other and sharing in their faith in Jesus Christ. Together they were dedicated church members of the Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, serving in various roles over the years.

Esther and Paul moved to Chicago, IL in 1955 and settled in Wheaton, IL in 1958, where they raised four children, two boys and two girls. Esther continued her education at the Chicago Teachers' College and Northwestern University, receiving a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1967. That same year, she began a dedicated 25-year career as a guidance counselor at West Chicago High School.  Later in her career, she received a Doctor of Education degree from Northern Illinois University in 1990.

Esther was adept in balancing her studies and career with her responsibilities as a devoted, loving mother.  In her career, she was known for going above and beyond, and providing hope, encouragement and wise advice that transformed countless lives. This included helping to found Moms in School, a local daycare center for young teenage mothers, so they could continue their education. This same caring, selfless devotion was shown to her family, colleagues, friends and the community, who are forever grateful for her. Esther retired in 1992 and spent her days volunteering and enjoying her ten grandchildren. Throughout her adult life, she enjoyed researching genealogy and was a member of the local DuPage chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.).

Paul and Esther moved in 2008 to Covenant Care at Windsor Park in Carol Stream, IL.  Esther showed love and thankfulness to those who provided care to her over her 20-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

She is survived by her husband Paul Nelson, of Carol Stream, IL; her two brothers, Paul Hiley, Sr. of Naples, FL, and Eugene (Sherry) Hiley of Steilacoom, WA;  her sister-in-law Frances Wallgren of Northbrook, IL;  along with her four children, Paul (Noriko) Nelson, Jr., of Elk Grove Village, IL,  David (Dena) Nelson of Richmond, VA, Elizabeth (William) Davis of Littleton, CO, and Margret Nelson of Carol Stream, IL; eight grandchildren, Kimberly (Brian) Fuller of Bolingbrook, IL, Kevin Bennett of Carol Stream, IL, Nina (Brad) Fletcher of Bedford Park, IL, Christina (James) Wert of Decatur, Georgia, Sarah (Hanrick) of Richmond, VA,  Kelsey (Michael) Beckstrand of Highlands Ranch, CO, Michael Nelson of Boston, MA and Rei Komura of Elk Grove Village, IL; along with nine great-grandchildren, Caroline, Linnea, Mason & Bennett Fuller, Julia Fletcher, Makenzie, Eli, & Tilly Burger, Henzley Beckstrand, and Baby Beckstrand expected in September, along with many dearly loved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Stanley Nelson and sister-in-law, Marion Nelson; brother-in-law Raymond Wallgren; sister-in-law Phyllis Hiley; and her two beloved grandchildren, Elisa Rheineck and Christopher Rheineck, all of whom she is now happily re-united with in Heaven.

A Memorial Service will be held at Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, 277 Hawthorne Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL on Saturday, August 9th at 2:00 P.M. To send flowers or for more information, please contact Hultgren Funeral Home in Wheaton, IL. For those that are not able to attend in person the church will be live streaming the service, it will be available on the churches channel at https://www.youtube.com/@glenellyncovenantchurch6688/streams