Ethel Irene MacBay Strebel, 92, of Hagerstown, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at her home.
Born July 29, 1926, in Kenmore, New York, she was the daughter of the late Chauncey Evan and Mabel Helen (Smith) MacBay. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, William E. Strebel, and her 2 brothers and 5 sisters. Ethel was the last survivor of her immediate family.
Ethel grew up during the Depression. Her first real job was at Lyons a local ice cream parlor where she scooped ice cream and waited on customers. In addition, she did babysitting for local families and her niece at a young age. She worked in the Curtis Wright aircraft factory in Buffalo during WWII in order to support the war effort. After she married William in 1947, she took on the role of dedicated homemaker, creating a nurturing environment for her husband and children as Williams work took the family from Kenmore, New York to Amherst, Ohio, back to Kenmore, and then to Spartanburg, SC. In Spartanburg, she became active in the Newcomers Club where she organized events and played Bridge. After her children were grown, she returned to the work force, holding jobs at ManPower, Inc., temporary office staffing, and at Belks Department Stores, as an inventory control expert. In 2000, Ethel and William retired to Hagerstown, Maryland to be closer to their son in Columbia, Maryland.
Her life was filled with music ranging from listening to the Big Band Sounds of the 40s and 50s to singing in the church choir wherever she lived. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed puzzles, playing cards, bowling, and vacations with her family at the Strebel homestead in the Catskill Mountains of New York State.
Ethel is survived by a son, Donald E. Strebel of Columbia, MD; a daughter, Susan I. Jones of Pensacola, FL; and 3 grandchildren: Dawn Jones; Christina Irene Plum, her husband Jason Plum, and their children Lily and Holly; and Robin Jones, her fianc Thomas Wiessner Jr., and his children Tommy, Tori, Jordan, and Kat. In addition, she will be remembered by many nieces and nephews who were always a part of her life.
The family will receive friends from 3-5pm on Monday, July 29, 2019 at Rest Haven Funeral Home, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. Inurnment will be private and held at the family's convenience.
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