Ethel Brauneiss

1922 - 2022

RN, WWII Navy officer, beloved mother, grandmother & sister Ethel Brauneiss was born July 6, 1922 in Nova Scotia, Canada to Anne (nee Tuck) and Thomas Coolen. They moved to New York City with her siblings, Marion (now 101years old) and Reginald, Daphne and Margaret (all now deceased). She graduated from Annunciation Girls School and Cathedral High School in Manhattan and then from St. Vincent's School of Nursing as an RN. During World War II, Ethel enlisted in the Navy and rose to the rank of Lieutenant, serving at the naval hospital in San Francisco. She next was a Public Health Nurse in Harlem while earning a Bachelor of Science degree (with a focus on nutrition) from St. John's University, and then returned to naval service during the Korean Conflict. While on vacation, she met Clyde Brauneiss and they were married in 1951. Clyde was Fred Astaire to her Ginger Rogers, dancing to Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey and many other songs throughout their 40 years of marriage. Ethel always appreciated Clyde's support, strength and musical and artistic abilities. They had two children, Steven and Susan, and moved to Richmond Hill where Clyde was born and grew up. Ethel greatly valued her time with his family, Walter, Ruth and her nieces, Lynn and Nancy; all three women were also RN's. While taking care of her family, Ethel became an active member of Holy Child Jesus Parish, as President of the women's organization and as the first woman member and later President of the Parish Council. She welcomed parishioners living alone to join her family for the holidays and gave nursing care to older ones enabling them to remain in their family homes. Ethel came from a family of many dedicated nurses (including her sisters Helen and Joan), who nicknamed her "The Nurse's Nurse" for her skill, knowledge, empathy and strength. Having always stayed current with nursing and medical practices, Ethel also joined the staff at Jamaica Hospital as an RN. When Clyde passed away in 1990, Ethel moved to Staten Island to be near her sister, Marion. Always a people person, she became involved in several groups, making many close and wonderful lifelong friends. At Blessed Sacrament, Ethel was a member of the Senior Group and participated in the Staten Island Widows' Club. She enthusiastically embraced the Red Hatter's mission of fun, play, friendship, support and colorful outfits. Game to try something new, Ethel joined Hell 'v a Choir, performing at many locations in Staten Island. An excellent dancer, she was a star line dancer at the Friendship Club and was seen on a TV news program as the one to follow, with her lively dance moves and joyous smile. At her 90th birthday party, over 40 friends joined her family in performing several fancy line dances, with many sharing how Ethel was very special to them. Ethel focused on nutrition, exercise and health throughout her life. Besides her dancing, she frequently swam laps at the YMCA and attended exercise classes at the Jewish Community Center. Her motto was "climbing stairs is essential" and on snowy and rainy days, Ethel climbed the staircase in her apartment building twenty times. She also attended wellness presentations at 1099 SEIU and online researched beneficial nutrition and supplements. As always, she stayed up to date on developments in nursing care. When Ethel and her sister, Marion moved into an apartment in Esplanade Independent Living on Staten Island, she enjoyed making new friends and joined in many activities, wanting to bring joy to all and share in the fun. A generous and caring person, Ethel truly valued her family and her friends. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 9, 2022 after a valiant battle with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer, with support from her family and friends, and expert and care from her Oncologist, Dr. Qun Dai and Ethel's devoted aids Beryl Lester and Justine Attipoe. She is survived by her sister, Marion Coolen (deceased siblings and their spouses, Reginald Leadbeater and Roslyn and family including Linda Barker Constant and family; Daphne Bell and Thomas and family; Margaret Coolen; Helen Coolen; and Joan Kolloff and Paul and family); her son Steven and his wife Enza Itri; her daughter Susan and her husband Marc Gamsin; her grandchildren Elizabeth and Matthew Gamsin and his wife Marta Eggers; and her nieces, Lynn DeVito and Nancy Schnarr, their husbands Frank and Robert, and their children and their spouses, and their grandchildren. All fondly remember her annual birthday cards with cartoons and corny jokes. On Friday, April 22, 2022, a Burial Service will be held at 2PM at Calverton National Cemetery, Wading River, Long Island, and a Memorial Service/Celebration of Life and Dinner will be held at Cooperage Inn, Bading Hollow, from 3:30PM to 6:30PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: https://support.northwell.edu/file/NHF-Donation-Form-2020.pdf - "Restricted to the discretion of Dr. Qun Dai" and "In Memory of Ethel Brauneiss" with Gift Notification to "Marion Coolen & The Brauneiss Family, 1415 Richmond Avenue #510, Staten Island, NY 10314."