William J. Ethier
Retired Postal Clerk
TEWKSBURY: William J. Ethier, age 71, a resident of Tewksbury for 40 years, formerly of Wilmington and Salem, passed away at the Brigham & Women's Hospital on Saturday, March 9, 2013.
He was the beloved husband of Sandra C. (Santos) Ethier, with whom he celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on November 11, 2012.
Born in Cambridge on October 1, 1941, he was the son of the late Clarence E. Ethier and the late Mary (Chisolm) Ethier.
Bill was raised in Wilmington, attended Wilmington schools and graduated from Wilmington High School in 1959.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Vietnam War Era.
Prior to his retirement in 2012, he was employed as a Mail Processing Clerk by the U.S. Postal Processing Center in North Reading, where he worked for 25 years.
Bill will always be remembered by those who loved him for his love of cruising and reading, his love for animals, especially his pets, his adventurous spirit, and his love for his grandchildren.
In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by one daughter, Michelle A. Cole and her husband Wayne of Salem, NH; one son, Mark W. Ethier and his wife Kelly of Hudson, MA; three grandchildren, Alison and Ryan Cole, and Liam Ethier; one sister, Maryann Ethier of Wilmington; one brother, Paul Ethier and his wife Mildred of Tuscon, AZ; his sister-in-law, Diane Santos of Salem; two nieces, Tracy Ethier Kilros and family of Wilmington, and Susan Petrucci Barta and family of Wiggins, CO.
Bill was the uncle of the late Theodore Petrucci.
Calling hours are Wednesday, March 13, from 4-8 p.m., in the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. His funeral will be held Thursday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. in St. William's Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844 or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.