In Memory Of
Ethel Maria Digiacomo
Ethel Maria Digiacomo
DIGIACOMO, Ethel Maria, 90, died May 19. She was born Aug. 18, 1920 in Canada to British immigrants Gerald and Doris Bell. She was raised by her mother in New York where she met her lifelong friend, Jeanne (Long) Chinnock. Ethel went to nursing school at Newport Hospital in Rhode Island, where she met another lifelong friend, Doris Schubin. While in Newport, she married Edward DiGiacomo, a Navy sailor, in 1943. They had two children, Robert, born in 1948, and Diane, 1955.
The couple raised their family in Irvington, Belleville, and Basking Ridge, New Jersey. While living in their first home in Irvington she met and became close friends with neighbors Arthur and Betty Schwab who also became surrogate grandparents to her children. Throughout her adult life Ethel continued to work as a dedicated and caring nurse, in hospitals and then in doctors' offices. In 1973, the couple retired to Florida where the petite Ethel was a "senior model"; they enjoyed ballroom dancing every Saturday night and travelling all over the world with Doris and Ted Schubin and many other dear friends. Ethel kept dozens of scrapbooks with mementos of their trips; Hawaii was among her favorites. Robert and Diane, and Diane's son, Zach, joined them for their last big vacation, a memorable cruise to Alaska in 2002.
In 1997, Ethel and Ed moved to Colorado so they could be part of their only grandson's life. Ethel picked up the young boy from school every day, always bringing him a snack in her cooler and taking him to the park to play. The bond between them has remained very special to this day. We are happy that both Ethel and Ed lived to see Zach graduate from high school in May 2010 and go on to college, a smart, kind and loving young man, due in no small part to the love of his "Nana."
Ethel is survived by her children Robert (Indianapolis) and Diane (Arvada). She was preceded in death by her husband Ed in September 2010 and her childhood friend Jeanne Chinnock in April. She is also survived by her cousin Irene Barrack. A private graveside service will be held later this summer at Fort Logan Cemetery.
The couple raised their family in Irvington, Belleville, and Basking Ridge, New Jersey. While living in their first home in Irvington she met and became close friends with neighbors Arthur and Betty Schwab who also became surrogate grandparents to her children. Throughout her adult life Ethel continued to work as a dedicated and caring nurse, in hospitals and then in doctors' offices. In 1973, the couple retired to Florida where the petite Ethel was a "senior model"; they enjoyed ballroom dancing every Saturday night and travelling all over the world with Doris and Ted Schubin and many other dear friends. Ethel kept dozens of scrapbooks with mementos of their trips; Hawaii was among her favorites. Robert and Diane, and Diane's son, Zach, joined them for their last big vacation, a memorable cruise to Alaska in 2002.
In 1997, Ethel and Ed moved to Colorado so they could be part of their only grandson's life. Ethel picked up the young boy from school every day, always bringing him a snack in her cooler and taking him to the park to play. The bond between them has remained very special to this day. We are happy that both Ethel and Ed lived to see Zach graduate from high school in May 2010 and go on to college, a smart, kind and loving young man, due in no small part to the love of his "Nana."
Ethel is survived by her children Robert (Indianapolis) and Diane (Arvada). She was preceded in death by her husband Ed in September 2010 and her childhood friend Jeanne Chinnock in April. She is also survived by her cousin Irene Barrack. A private graveside service will be held later this summer at Fort Logan Cemetery.
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