Louise Kestenbaum died peacefully in her home on April 26. She was with her beloved husband and daughters and surrounded by the love and care of her family and many friends. She lived with stage four cancer for the last three years of her life. She embraced every treatment possible to extend her life so that she could be with those she loved most dear. Her family will be forever grateful to her for that gift.

Louise was born in Manchester, New Hampshire on November 21, 1942. She graduated from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1964. She had a successful career with a health plan start up in New York before moving to Southern California in 1975. There, she began her  successful career at Kaiser Permanente, working in health plan management, hospital administration, and as director of enrollment.

However, it was her love of family, friends, and the natural world that provided her the greatest happiness and meaning. She worked tirelessly to create beautiful and thoughtful environments, occasions, and gifts for those she loved. “Her embodiment of beauty and elegance was not for beauty’s sake but to honor and elevate everyone she touched,” her family shared. “In every encounter, Louise brought her genuine interest, curiosity, and care. Everyone who met her and knew her felt it. She was deeply loving, extraordinarily wise, and innately compassionate. She left goodness in her wake.”

She is survived by her husband, David; daughters Beth and Julia; sons-in-law Mike and Mark; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 20 at Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 Harrison Ave., Claremont, CA 91711.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy at claremontwildlands.org.