Contributions to the tribute of Ethel Rita James

Tribute Wall

Monday

December

Visitation at Funeral Home

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Monday, December 30, 2019

Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, Inc.

20 Hicksville Road

Bethpage, New York, United States

Tuesday

December

Funeral Mass

9:15 am

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

St. James R.C. Church

80 Hicksville Road

Seaford, New York, United States

Final Resting Place

Long Island National Cemetery

Pinelawn Road

Pinelawn, NY, New York, United States

Obituary

ETHEL RITA AGNES JAMES, 92, peacefully passed away on December 23, 2019 in Freeport, NY. Ethel was born January 13, 1927 to Joseph Lawrence Walsh and Mabel Elizabeth (Baldwin) Bischoff/Walsh in Manhattan, NY. She was one of seven children, raised by a single mother who was widowed twice, which instilled a strong work ethic and deep loyalty within their family. Ethel worked at the phone company as an operator and even modeled for Camel cigarettes. She worked at Mid Island/St. Joseph’s Hospital as a cashier until her retirement and was loved and respected by all. Ethel was a world wide traveler, but her heart always belonged to her beloved New York and the Mets. Ethel loved her family unconditionally and was a devout Catholic. She volunteered many years at Westbury Gardens, she placed flags every Memorial Day at the graves of many military personnel and she even volunteered at Bethpage Black for the U.S. Open. St. Jude Children’s Hospital was close to her heart. Ethel was fun loving, she enjoyed going to amusement parks, street festivals, fun restaurants and neighborhood block parties. She could get her family to do the craziest things, which she captured in pictures, creating wonderful memories. She was generous with her time and she was an amazing philanthropist who inspired others. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers William and John, her sisters Mabel, Myrtle, Florence and Anna. She is survived by many generations, who love and her adore her.