Ethel Mae Blake

Ethel Mae Blake of Berlin, CT passed away on July 11, 2022. Born March 16, 1934 in New Britain, CT to the late Amelia O’Connell & fathers Amel Battistone and Matthew O’Connell. As an only child, Ethel met and married her childhood sweetheart, Charles W. Blake (predeceased), also an only child. Their love story grew to include 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Their love and devotion built a beautiful life together, a life of giving so much to others. Baking, sewing, knitting, canning, crocheting, piano & accordion playing, the list of her talents goes on. Her homemade gifts have been extended throughout her life. Each year more than 100 pairs of mittens were donated for little hands. Ethel also shared her many talents as a Brownie leader, Girl Scout leader, 4-H leader, room mother & field trip chaperone times 5 and craft show participant with Charles. She worked as a Town of Berlin transcriptionist, on the Board of Election& Education committees and volunteered at St. Paul’s Church tallying weekly envelopes and making rosaries. She also joined the teaching staff at St. Paul’s School for 10 years with the newly formed kindergarten. Birthdays were special days waiting for her call and a song. Holidays were full of new and old stories that she often wrote down. Vacation and camping travels from Hammonasset State Beach as a young girl to those with the Culver family were highlights. She will be most remembered though for her timely and touching notes she blessed all of us with. Her thoughtfulness was immense. Her love sincere. After moving from her School Street home to Percival Heights, she sent notes along with monthly treats in everyone’s mail cubbies there to make sure they knew someone was thinking of them. Her door was always open as was her heart to everyone. She left us with a poem to share called “I’m Free” Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free. I’m following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard him call. I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found that place at the end of day. If my parting left a void, then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Aah yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I favored much; good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief. Don’t lengthen it now with undo grief. Lift up your heart and share with me that God wanted me now. He set me free…Anonymous Ethel was predeceased by her daughter Cheryl Blake-Scavetta of Damariscotta, ME in 2016 and is survived by her daughters, Katherine Parker (David) of So. Yarmouth, MA, Karen Henebry (James) of Hampton Falls, NH, Pamela Schoppmeyer (William) of Hampden, ME and her son, Charles Blake of Berlin, CT; her 12 grandchildren, Lindsay Schoppmeyer of AL, Devon Schoppmeyer of ME, Emily Beekman (Hugo) of MA, Meredith Steele (Mark) of ME , C.J. Scavetta of ME, James Henebry of MA, Katie Henebry of MT, Gregory Parker (Caitlin) of MA, Sean Scavetta (Tiffany) of ME, Morgan Scavetta of MA, and Madison Blake & Charles Blake of CT; and her 5 great-grandchildren, Blake & Hudson Steele, Mae and Charles Beekman, and Brantley Scavetta. She leaves many others who became her extended family. So blessed are we. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at St Paul’s Church, 461 Alling St, Kensington, CT at 10:00 a.m. There is a live stream for family and friends who would like to attend the service remotely. Go to stpaulkensington.org & chose the Live Stream option. There will be a calling hour prior to the mass from 8:30-9:30 at Berlin Memorial Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the family plot in Maple Hill Cemetery on Worthington Ridge, Berlin. Contributions may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society at CThumane.org or mailed to Friends of the Berlin VNA, 240 Kensington Rd, Berlin, CT. 0603

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