Loretta A. Ethier, 91
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Loretta A. (Bell) Ethier, age 91, of Mansfield, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at the Alliance Health at Maples in Wrentham. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul A. Ethier, to whom she was wed for forty-four years at the time of his death on March 1, 1997.
Born in Lincoln, Rhode Island on November 22, 1932, she was a loving daughter of the late Joseph, Sr. and Yvonne (Lemieux) Bell.
Educated in Woonsocket Schools, Loretta worked very hard throughout her life to help support her large and close-knit loving family. For twenty years, she was employed as a Supervisor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the former Foxboro State Hospital, Taunton State Hospital and Wrentham State School. Following retirement in 1988, she continued working as a Coffee Break Girl at the former Sheraton Hotel in Mansfield and later when the company operated as the Holiday Inn. Mrs. Ethier was also a former Crossing Guard for the Town of Mansfield Public Schools and ran Daycare at her home in Mansfield for ten years.
Loretta was a devout Catholic and a faithful communicant of Saint Mary’s Church in Mansfield. Her church affiliations included being a member of the Catholic Women’s Club, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and on the Helping Hands Committee. For her many years of devoted service, she was honored as a recipient of the prestigious Marian Medal Award.
A resident of Mansfield for sixty years, Loretta loved to travel, visiting places like Hawaii, Alaska and Okinawa and enjoying several cruises. She regularly walked three miles a day with her late best friend and neighbor Florina McKenney and was an active member of the Plainville and Mansfield Senior Centers. Loretta enjoyed spending time with her many friends, being an accomplished bowler and was well-known for her delicious homemade apple pies.
She is survived by her devoted children, Diane C. Mota and her husband Mannie of Taunton, Elaine J. Montgomery and her husband John of Lakeville, Paul A Ethier, Jr. and his wife Grace of North Attleboro, Richard E. Ethier and his wife Beth of South Carolina, Michelle A. White and her husband Richard of North Attleboro, Mederic J. Ethier and his wife Jeannie of Mansfield, Dolores J. Ouimet and her husband Christopher of East Freetown, Linda C. Silva and her husband John of North Attleboro, Susan M. Roy of Plainville and Marianne O’Brien and her boyfriend Michael Tallman of Mansfield. She was the dear sister of Joseph Bell, Jr. and his wife Ann of Woburn, Jeanne Lunderville of South Carolina, Aline Kenyon of Georgia, Cecile Felicio of Rhode Island, and the late Edward Bell, Raymond Bell, Claire Iadevaia, Robert Bell, Theresa Leblond, Yvette Stevens and Robert Bell, who died as an infant. She is also survived by her cherished 23 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, 2 great-great granddaughters, as well as many much-loved nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, November 1st from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main Street, Mansfield.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 2nd at 11:00 A.M. in Saint Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt Street (Route 106) Mansfield. Burial will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Loretta’s memory may be made to the Alliance at Maples Activities Department, 90 Taunton Street, Wrentham, MA 02039 or to Saint Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt Street, Mansfield, Mam 02048.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com