KINGSBURY--- Ethel Brennan Mead, 91, of Kingsbury, passed over peacefully at home Thursday, May 30, 2013, with her family by her side as they recited the Lord's Prayer.
Born Nov, 1, 1921 in the Brennan family home on Dix Ave. in Hudson Falls, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Irene (Aiken) Brennan.
On New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 1943, she married Alden Mead, and together they managed the Mead Family Farm with the help of their two older sons, Charlie and Claude, and also their son Mike in later years. They raised their family on the 125 plus year old Mead family homestead. Ethel remained at home which was made possible with the help of her "boys" and "girls" as she called them, who shared in the responsibilities of managing and maintaining her family homestead which enabled her to stay there during her declining years.
She graduated from Hudson Falls Senior High School in the class of 1942. For many years, Ethel worked at Bard in Glens Falls until she retired from there in the 1980's. Ethel was a 50 year plus member of the Kingsbury / Mohican Grange and the Sanford's Ridge Methodist Church. She was a past participating member of the Queensbury and Moreau Senior Centers and was an active member of TOPS for many years. When she was able, Ethel was a faithful church member, helping with church dinners and bake sales (baking was her forte) for the family and every year at holiday time she would make cookies for the men at the lumber mill.
Ethel loved to read and deeply missed it when she was no longer able to do so. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family whenever an opportunity presented itself, and periodically with past school friends for lunch and also enjoyed having visitors stop to visit. When asked, Ethel would never refuse to go out for a ride or to get ice cream with her son, Mike, and his wife, Betty Jean, almost as a ritual, or with anybody else who would offer. A couple of her favorite hobbies were cooking and baking. She never turned down a chance to create something for someone to enjoy. Ethel was the host of very many Thanksgiving dinners over the years with over 35 family members in attendance until this last Thanksgiving. Once a year in the month of August, she always looked forward to organizing the Brennan family reunion.
In addition to her parents, her husband, Alden, predeceased her on Sept. 23, 1982 and an infant son, Steven, in 1945. She was also predeceased by her son, Claude Mead, his wife, JoAnn Ross Mead and their children, Danny, Timothy, and Scott in 1975; and by all of her siblings, Ethel being the youngest, Jim and Joe Brennan, Marion Stanouski, Irene Spellburg, Margaret Nichols Minor, Josephine Clark; and a sister-in-law, Helen Mead Howland.
Survivors include four children: a daughter, Carol (Bob) Towne, a son, Charles (Christine) Mead, a son, Michael (Betty Jean) Mead, and a daughter, Cindy (Dave) Ploof; 10 grandchildren, Cheryl (Fran) Levassuer, Richard Gregory, Stephen (Rachael) Gregory, Jeffrey Mead, Jennifer (Paul) Delzotto, Todd Mead, Nicholas (Katrina) Mead, Matthew Ploof (Lindsay), Rene (PJ) Cote, and Eric Ploof; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.
Ethel was cared for by her family for so many years and a special thank you to her longtime caregiver and a very special granddaughter, Cheryl Levassuer. Also a special thanks to the Fort Hudson Health System and staff for providing home health care aides and for their friendship and compassion they shared with Ethel and her family, and a special thanks to Jen, Cap, Loretta, and also to Mary for their help. Also, the family would like to extend their gratitude to Hudson Headwaters Homeward Bound Network and especially Patti Auer for being there whenever we needed her and the care she gave to our "Matriarch" as Patti called her. We would also like to thank the Hospice staff for their support.
Friends may call upon the family Sunday, June 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury.
A funeral service will take place Monday, June 3, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. John F. Greenough, pastor of Sanford's Ridge United Methodist Church officiating.
Burial will follow at Pine View Cemetery, Quaker Rd., Queensbury.
Friends are invited to join Ethel's family for a gathering to celebrate her life at the family farmhouse following burial.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in loving memory of Ethel, to Alzheimer's Association, Pine West Plaza, Building 4, Suite 405, Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, NY 12205, or to Sanford's Ridge United Methodist Church, 1919 Sanford's Ridge Rd., Queensbury, NY 12804.
Condolences may be mailed to Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or e-mailed through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.