Date of Death: July 8, 2026
Service Details
Her family will receive friends Saturday, July 18, 2026 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Newberg, 13021 Born St., Jones. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the church with Pastor Jason Holdeman officiating.
Obituary Notice
Gwendolyn Dianne Chester, 72, of Jones, passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals – St. Joseph Hospital.
She was born March 24, 1954 in Arab, Alabama, the daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Steadham) Monroe. They lived in Alabama for the first 12 years of her life and then moved to Elkhart, Indiana where she graduated from Elkhart High School with the class of 1972. After high school, Gwen married her first husband and moved to California where she had her 2 children. She moved back to Elkhart in 1981. On September 30, 2000, she married Zeb Chester after several years of a long distance relationship.
Gwen worked at the local cable company in Elkhart and Mishawaka, IN for most of her career. After that job ended, she moved to Coldwater, Michigan with her husband, Zeb, and worked at Betty’s Flower Shop for several years. Her favorite part of working for the cable company was the many people she met. Her favorite part of working at the flower shop was being surrounded by beautiful flowers all the time.
She enjoyed making crafts, playing games, and connecting with people all over the world. In recent years she loved watching the birds flock to the feeders, the deer in the woods, and the squirrels playing outside her bedroom window. She was an avid reader and book reviewer for several authors in recent years. She also loved jigsaw puzzles. Whatever Gwen did, she did with her whole heart and she did it well.
Remaining to cherish her memory are her husband, Zeb Chester; son, Steve (Jessica) Quick; daughter, Cassandra (Jason) Holdeman; grandchildren, Bruce (Emily) Quick, Luke Quick, Caleb (Jocelyn) Holdeman, and Anya Holdeman; great-grandson, Maverick Quick; brothers, Stan (Sherri) Monroe and Bobby Van Bailey; sisters, Kathy (Jeff) Greer and Anna Simpson; many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Additional Information
Donations in Gwen’s name may be directed to the family to help with funeral costs and final medical costs. Envelopes will be available at the church and at Hohner Funeral Home.
Please Leave Your Condolences
When your condolences are submitted they will not display until approved by the Hohner staff for appropriateness out of respect for their memory. They should appear within 24 hours or less. Thank you for your understanding.
She was like a grandma to me! I always loved going to see her either Anya and she was always encouraging and loving and so supportive. I will keep the family in my prayers. But I do love her so much and I am so thankful she is out of suffering and with the lord.
So sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts prayers.
So very sorry for your loss, it’s heartbreaking when losing a parent. We send our Prayers, and may the Lord give you strength and grace for all the days ahead. God Bless, the Bannow Family.