Born on Nov. 11, 1926, in Vancouver, B.C., Esther was the daughter of Helen and Rubin Hamilton.

After schooling, Esther traveled with her friends through Canada and the United States before returning to Vancouver and getting married to Charles Kneale in 1952.

Esther and Charlie moved to Edmonton shortly after getting married, had a daughter and then moved to Calgary where they had another daughter. In 1958, Charlie was transferred to Houston, Texas, where they had another daughter and son and spent the next 20 years raising their family. In 1985, they retired to Whidbey Island. Esther moved to Vancouver, B.C., in 2012 to be closer to her daughter and family.

Surviving are daughters Kathy Quee and her husband Bill of West Vancouver, B.C., Joyce Brodrick of Austin, Texas, Carol Rhodes and partner Lauree Dietzel of Austin, Texas; son Tommy Kneale of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren, Ryan Quee, Danielle Quee, Clayton Alexander, Brittnee Rhodes, Collin Brodrick, Shane Rhodes and Ginger Kneale; and two great-grandchildren.