Henrietta Jester

Henrietta Jester, age 99 of Jefferson Hills, PA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Residence at Arrowood in West Mifflin, PA. She was born Henrietta Sestito on May 26, 1927, to Enrico and Therese (Iervasi) Sestito.

Henrietta enjoyed a blessed childhood and teenage years growing up in Clairton, PA during its heyday and was doted upon by her Mother, Stepfather, Antonio DeSantis, and many close family and friends.

She met her beloved Arnold “Skip” Jester while they worked together at the whiskey bottling distillery located in Large, PA. After teasingly asking her when she was going to take him out, they dated, wed, had two daughters and built their life together in Jefferson Hills for 57 years until his passing in 2006. Due to their hard work, they built their home without having a mortgage and also paid for dancing lessons and college for both daughters. They were among the first members of St Thomas A’ Becket Parish (now Triumph of the Holy Cross) from its inception in 1957.

While her daughters were young, Henrietta bravely learned how to drive and began working retail sales at the W. T. Grant Co. for many years until they closed. Later she worked at Kroger’s grocery deli until they also closed. Upon news of her first granddaughter, Brittany’s pending birth, she agreed to care for her while her parents were working and later did the same for her second granddaughter, Ella. Both maintained very close lifelong relationships with their grandmother. In addition to her granddaughters, Henrietta was also blessed with a grandson and two great grandsons. Her biggest smiles were always for her grands and greats!

In addition to caregiving, Henrietta was an original member of the St Thomas A’ Becket Marion Singers, a group of widows who rotated weekly singing performances at local assisted living facilities. She also volunteered with the Christian Mothers and the Floreffe Ladies’ Auxiliary. A great baker, she indulged family members and friends with picture-perfect, delicious cookies and nut rolls during visits and made her husband’s favorite peach and lemon meringue pies.

Henrietta continued living independently in the home that she and Skip built together until age 93 when she moved into assisted living at Paramount and later The Residence at Arrowood. She happily celebrated her 99th birthday on May 26th with a big cake and received lots of love and good wishes.

In addition to her parents and husband, Henrietta was preceded in death by her three siblings, Sam Sestito, Nancy (DeSantis) Bellino and Felix DeSantis. She is survived by her daughters Pamela (Helmut John) Thompson of North Huntingdon, PA and Patricia (James) Bauccio of South Park, PA; three grandchildren Brittany Bauccio, Ella Jester Thompson and Jaycen C Jester; and two great grandsons, Jayden and Asher Bauccio.

Henrietta’s family is deeply appreciative of her many loving and compassionate caregivers and friends at Paramount, The Residence at Arrowood, the Orthopedic and ER nursing staffs at AHN Jefferson, the EMTs, OSPTA Hospice, Lenora Debiak and Father Joe Luisi.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, June 26, 2026 from 3-7 pm at the Stephen D Slater Funeral Home, 1701 Route 51, Jefferson Hills PA 15025; (412-384-0350); www.stephendslater.com.

There will be a prayer in the funeral home on Saturday morning, June 27, 2026 at 9:15 followed by a procession to the church for Henrietta’s 10 AM Mass of Christian Burial at Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish, the St. Thomas A’ Becket Catholic Church, 139 Gill Hall Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025. Entombment will follow in the Mausoleum in Jefferson Memorial Park immediately after the Mass.