MONMOUTH – Esther quietly passed away at her home in Monmouth on May 21, after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

She was the daughter of William and Blanche (Jones) Slauenwhite, born July 9, 1930, in Monmouth. She grew up in town and graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1948, and worked briefly as a telephone operator in Monmouth.

She married Calvin (Cabby) Prince on July 9, 1949, and they were married for 52 years before his death in 2001. Her love of reading and books led to work in the Cumston Public Library, followed by 27 years as librarian at the Henry L. Cottrell School, retiring in 1998.

She was active in community groups throughout her life, including Girl Scouts, Mother’s Club, and Pythian Sisters. She was a long-time member and treasurer of the Monmouth Fair Association. She enjoyed simple things in life like Sunday morning coffee with her family, camping, eating lobster, flower gardening, playing beano, and feeding and watching wild birds. She investigated her family genealogy, which prompted a delightful vacation in Nova Scotia two summers ago with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters, Audrey Walker and her husband David of Monmouth, Pat Foss and her husband Gary of Wales, and Melissa Prince of Winthrop; one son, Randy Prince and his wife Noni of Monmouth; grandchildren, Amanda and Alyson Walker, Cassie and Dana Bellemare, Jessica, Justin, and Bryan Prince; stepgrandchildren, Amanda Cote (and daughter Mariah) and Chris Foss; she was especially fond of her great-grandson, Jared Scott Bellemare, born last July; two brothers, Norman Slauenwhite and his wife Lois of Monmouth, and Jim Slauenwhite and wife Cheryl of Brunswick, and Sally Slauenwhite, widow of brother Edward. She will also be missed by members of her husband’s family as well as many nieces and nephews in this area and around the country.