Ethel I. Birgelaitis

Ethel I. Birgelaitis passed away January 27, 2015 at Keller Oaks Healthcare Facility in Keller, Texas at 94 years of age. Ethel had lived in DFW area for the past four years, going to Texas to be near to two of her children and their families as needs for increasing care grew.
Ethel was born on July 28, 1920 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Julius and Lydia Niemi who came to the United States from Finland in their late teens. Ethel and her sister Eva grew up in Grand Rapids where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Edward J. Birgelaitis on April 3,1943. With five children in tow, Ethel made the cross country trek to San Diego, California where Ed accepted a job as an electrical engineer in the aerospace industry working for General Dynamics Astronautics in 1961.

Ethel always found fulfillment in her vocation as an R.N., in her relationship with her husband and the active family life they shared with their five children. She loved pets, living in San Diego, being engaged in the many activities of her children whether music, water sports or educational pursuits and chocolate. She was a SCRABBLE champion par excellent who loved words, writing, and music and had a great sense of humor. She entertained caregivers teaching them the words to such songs as "Let me Call you Sweetheart" to the end.
Ethel is survived by her children, Jane Hartling (Gary) of Sierra Vista, AZ, Wendy Wakefield (Chuck) of Grapevine, TX, Sally Zajonc (Ed) of Escondido, CA, Dan Birgelaitis (Vicki) of Colleyville, TX, and Rev. Mary Birgelaitis of Ventura, CA, fourteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Ethel was preceded in death by her husband Ed who passed away in 1974.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 21, 2015 at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA which has been her church home for over fifty years. Interment will be at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, CA.