Ethel F. Wallace, 89, of Rhinebeck

RHINEBECK » Ethel F. Wallace passed away peacefully on July 4, 2017, at her daughter’s home, in the company of her family, in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Ethel was born on Oct. 7, 1927, to the late Emily and Otto Foss. She grew up in Ballston Lake with her five siblings and graduated from Burnt Hills High School. A wonderful writer, Ethel was hired by the Schenectady Gazette upon graduating high school, before moving to Indiana to attend Valparaiso University. She worked at Ellis Hospital for over 20 years until she retired, after which she was dedicated to her work in caring for the sick and elderly in Red Hook and Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Ethel married the late Bruce C. Wallace in 1954 and they settled in Schenectady, N.Y., where they raised their three daughters, Sarah, Amy and Emily. Ethel was a beloved and devoted mother and grandmother. She taught her family the power of selfgiving, non-judgmental love. She spent the last 30 years crisscrossing the world to see her three daughters and nine grandchildren, who all know that nothing is better than Grandma Ethel’s early morning birthday singing telegrams.

Ethel was a world traveler, she biked part-way across the United States and Europe, visited most European countries, Israel, Africa, India and trekked the Himalayas.

She never lost her childlike awe and wonder for the world. She lived humbly, where the simplest things became treasures and markers of her shared experiences with others. Her care and devotion to other human beings shined through her work with the elderly and her selfless devotion to her family. Deeply cherished by those who met her, Ethel was a constant source of love, guidance, support, friendship, and unending generosity to her daughters, grandchildren and friends.

She is survived by her siblings, Carl Foss and Doris Wallach; her three daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah Wallace Cepollina and Claudio Cepollina of Italy, Amy and Richard Desmond of Rhinebeck, N.Y., and Emily Wallace and Jeffrey Herman of Boise, Idaho; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ethel donated her body to the Anatomical Gift Program of Albany Medical College.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 10, 2017, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 3 Mulberry St., Rhinebeck, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Ethel’s name to your favorite charity.