Esther May (DiMino) Feagins, 79, died suddenly on January 6, 2025, at her Batesville, Indiana home. She was born to Michael and Mary (Camarata) DiMino on May 31, 1945, in Utica, New York. On May 27, 1967, she married Richard F. Feagins at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in New Hartford, NY. Esther was a 1975 graduate of Nazareth College (Rochester, NY) earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and New York State certification as a public-school teacher. She was an elementary school teacher early in her career, later discovering her exceptional business and entrepreneurial skills while operating a family enterprise alongside her husband and sons. For 40 years, she was instrumental in running two companies, Eltek and LeKem of Indiana.
In both her life’s work and daily living, she was fiercely devoted to her family and friends, whom she cherished more than anything else. She also loved a swimming pool on a hot Florida day, laughing around a big Italian family dinner table, Barbra Streisand’s greatest hits, never-ending games of Rummikub, and chatting with perfect strangers. May she always be remembered as a shrewd businesswoman, as well as the magnanimous, affectionate, and fun-loving soul that she was.
Esther is survived by and was the devoted wife of Richard “Dick” Feagins of Vero Beach, FL in both life and business for 57 years. Beloved mother to Michael (Tara) Feagins, Paul (Mary) Feagins, and grandmother to John, Thomas, and Ava Feagins, all of Batesville; also survived by sister Nanette Westley of Vero Beach, FL and nephew Michael Westley of Salt Lake City, UT. She is preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Anthony, and brother-in-law David Westley. She will be dearly missed by a wide circle of extended family, friends, employees, and business associates.
A celebration of Esther’s life is being planned in Florida in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation at the following website: In Loving Memory of Esther Feagins Honoring Ava Feagins. Online condolences can be made at www.weigelfh.com.