Ethel (Marcelino) Griffith

Ethel Griffith, 92, passed away peacefully in bed on September 2, 2021, after a long fight with Alzheimer’s. Ethel Griffith (né Marcelino) was born on April 1, 1929, in New Bedford, Massachusetts and was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Alwyn (Al) Griffith, Jr.  

Al was also born and raised in New Bedford. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was the principal of Roosevelt Junior High School from 1968 until his retirement in 1983.

 Ethel was an insightful, intelligent, and poised “lioness” who supported her family as a dedicated housewife and mother, all while working numerous jobs to contribute to the support of her family. She rarely rested. Ethel loved her work as a secretary at St. Paul’s Methodist Church and the New Bedford Public School system. Both Al and Ethel were long time active members of St. Paul’s Methodist Church and were well respected by their peers. 

Ethel had a flair for baking, sewing, quilting, and knitting and a healthy fidelity to cleanliness, organization, and productivity. She loved her role as “Nana.” She had a strong and caring, but reserved personality. She made friends easily, and more significantly retained them - everywhere she went. Ethel was always coming up with ways to help others in need. She thought nothing of having her sons perform errands and tasks for neighbors, and today they realize the benefit of such kindly mandated charitable acts. “It will help your neighbors and its good for you” – we can hear Mom now and she was right! Ethel and Al also knew the value of the word “no” and were strong hierophants of education.  Thankfully they passed on that passion. 

Ethel had strong ties to her extended family and loved to reminisce about her grandfather’s farm in Dartmouth, the times with her sister and cousins, and all the strawberries she got to pick. Ethel and Al spent their last ten years together relishing “snowbird” trips to Florida to escape the New England winters.  

Ethel is survived by her two sons, Robert, and Steven; her daughter-in-law, Suzanna; three grandchildren, Noah, Aaron, and Sarah; and three great grandchildren, Preston, Estelle, and Landon.  

Services will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 884 Kempton St New Bedford, MA  02740 on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 10:00AM. A short reception will follow. The internment will take place later that day at 2:30PM at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts where Ethel will join Al forever. Additional information concerning services and commemorations is available at www.oneillfuneral.com 

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