Obituary for Esther Marianne Wolfrey
July 7, 1953 – October 23, 2025
Age 72

Esther Marianne Wolfrey (née Jilly) passed away peacefully on October 23, 2025, surrounded by her devoted family — including all of her cherished grandchildren — after bravely battling cancer.

Born in Hungary on July 7, 1953, Esther spent her earliest years in the country of her birth before her family relocated to Ghana in 1963. Those fascinating years remained among the greatest memories of her youth. In 1966, the Jilly family journeyed to the United States by ship, arriving on Columbus Day — a date that would forever hold deep meaning for Esther. They settled in Arlington, Virginia, where she thrived as a young girl. Even then, her boundless enthusiasm for life — the quality that every person remembers her by — shone brightly.

In 1973, Esther met the love of her life, Robert Wolfrey. Their relationship blossomed into a partnership spanning more than 51 years, and they recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary in September 2025. Together, they built a beautiful family and a home overflowing with love. Esther took immense pride in being a mother to their three daughters, who in turn blessed her with three sons-in-law, six grandchildren, and more family pets than could ever be counted. Being "Mom" and later "Grandma" was her greatest joy and proudest accomplishment.

Esther launched her professional career as a radiology technologist at Georgetown University. Her talent, compassion, and leadership quickly distinguished her, leading her to become the Administrative Director of Radiology at Virginia Hospital Center for over 30 years; She later became Chief Technologist for the Diagnostic Radiology Department (DRD) at the National Institute of Health before retiring after 10 years in 2019. She approached her work with the same passion and enthusiasm that defined every aspect of her life — truly, a force of nature.

If you were a coworker, you were likely spoiled with her legendary homemade muffins and award-winning chili. If you were a friend or family member, you were undoubtedly treated to her famous sugar-coated pecans. With Esther, no one was ever overlooked. She welcomed every person into her orbit with warmth, kindness, and her unforgettable, contagious laugh.

Many things brought Esther joy: Hungarian food; romantic comedies; softball and lacrosse games; swimming; skiing in Snowbird; long luxurious baths; and perfectly organized Tupperware. Born on the 7th day of the 7th month, luck always seemed to find her — lottery tickets, slot machines, radio giveaways — she won them all. But it wasn't just the prizes that lit her up; it was the thrill of the moment, the sparkle in her eyes, and the way her joy spilled over onto everyone around her. Her positivity was magnetic, her laughter contagious, and wherever she went, people felt lucky just to be near her.

When it came time to retire, Esther hesitated — until Robert revealed a plan worthy of her dreams. He found a beautiful home on a hill in West Virginia, with sweeping mountain views and abundant wildlife. Her heart was immediately captured — and the nearby casino didn't hurt either. Robert then fulfilled another dream by adding a swimming pool. Their home became the heart of the Wolfrey family — filled every weekend with children, grandchildren, friends, laughter, splashing, and joy. Esther's love knew no limits, and her home remains an everlasting testament.

Esther was preceded in death by her infant son, Walter Lee Wolfrey, in 1980; as well as her parents, Pongrac and Elizabeth Jilly, lovingly known to all as "Anyu" and "Apu". She is survived by her husband, Robert Wolfrey; daughters Michelle Marshall (Mark), Sarah Rice (Matt), and Megan Walther (Chris); her beloved grandchildren Taylor, Annabelle, Gavin, Emily, Abigail, and Nicholas; her brother, Gabor Jilly; and numerous extended family across the United States and Hungary.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 10th at 10:00am at Columbia Gardens Cemetery (3411 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22201). A celebration of life will immediately follow at the on-site venue from 11am-1pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Esther's name to the American Cancer Society.