Worlds Oldest Daughter of Charity turns 108
At 108 Sister Esther Diaz is the oldest among the nearly 20,000 members of the Daughters of Charity worldwide and celebrates her birthday August 21. She takes very few medications and is hardly ever sick. She served most of her life as a teacher, even spending time in China in the 1920s.
Lifetime milestones
- Aug. 21, 1900: Esther Diaz is born in Brooklyn
- April 1918: Begins postulatum (a time of preparation before joining the Daughters of Charity) in St. Louis
- 1919: Receives high school diploma from St. Joseph School in New Orleans
- 1925-27: Serves at an orphanage in Poyang, China
- 1936: Earns her bachelor’s degree from Loyola University in New Orleans
- 1968: Celebrates her 50th jubilee (her 50th anniversary of joining the Daughters of Charity)
- August 1975: Moves to the Mater Dei Provincial House in Evansville for “semi-retirement”
- November 1991: Moves to Seton Residence for “early retirement”
- Aug. 21, 2000: Celebrates 100th birthday. Celebration includes the release of 100 balloons
She now lives at Seton Residence, a retirement facility for Daughters of Charity. Among Diaz’s 59 fellow residents are several sisters who are also her former students.
For more on her amazing life and photos of her covering the sapn of her life visit the Evansville Courier
Tags: Daughters of Charity
CONGRATULATIONS! AND A VERY VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I GUESS THE CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO ALL OF US, DCs TOO, TO HAVE SUCH A GEM AMONG US. GOD BLESS YOU DEAR SISTER! Dear Sr. Ester, Love and Prayers, Former Daughter Jean Widener Dear Sister Ester… your brother in St. Vincent.. Sister esther, Many blessings to you on you 108th birthday. How wonderful. Im sure you have passed the milestone of Jubilee celebrations. How lovely for us as DC’S. Ive met many wonderful ones in my short life. Love in Louise and Vincent. Sr Theresax4 Comments
Know of my love and prayers for you as you celebrate your 108th birthday. I am thankful for your gift of life. Thank you for all you have done in your 90 years as a Daughter of Charity. You made a difference in my life.
Greetings and God’s blessing on your Birthday..Thank you for the gift you are to the DC’s and the entire Vincentian Family.
Fr. Greg Gay, C.M.
Superior General
CONGRATULATIONS! AND A VERY VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I GUESS THE CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO ALL OF US, DCs TOO, TO HAVE SUCH A GEM AMONG US. GOD BLESS YOU DEAR SISTER!
Dear Sr. Ester,
Know of my love and prayers for you as you celebrate your 108th birthday. I am thankful for your gift of life. Thank you for all you have done in your 90 years as a Daughter of Charity. You made a difference in my life.
Love and Prayers, Former Daughter Jean Widener
Dear Sister Ester…
Greetings and God’s blessing on your Birthday..Thank you for the gift you are to the DC’s and the entire Vincentian Family.
your brother in St. Vincent..
Fr. Greg Gay, C.M.
Superior General
Sister esther, Many blessings to you on you 108th birthday. How wonderful. Im sure you have passed the milestone of Jubilee celebrations. How lovely for us as DC’S. Ive met many wonderful ones in my short life. Love in Louise and Vincent. Sr Theresax