Maureen Anne (Welsh) Ethier

Ware ~ Maureen Anne (Welsh) Ethier, 87, died Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Baystate Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer surrounded by family, following an illness.  She was the beloved wife of 68 years of Richard T. Ethier, whom she married on November 30, 1957.

Mrs. Ethier was born in Holyoke, MA, on March 1, 1938, daughter of the late William and Lorraine (Gelinas) Welsh.  She was a graduate with the class of 1955 from Holyoke High School.  When she and her husband settled down in Brimfield to raise their family, she owned and operated the former Crystal Brook Dollhouse and Miniatures in Brimfield, MA for 33 years.  Mr. Ethier would build the dollhouses, and she would craft the miniatures.  Among her many activities, Mrs. Ethier enjoyed crafting, sewing, gardening, and miniaturing.  She was a very involved parishioner of St. Christopher's Church, and she taught Catechism for many years to the church's youth.  Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband, Richard T. Ethier Sr.  She is also survived by their children: Richard Ethier, Jr. of Tucson, AZ; David Ethier of South Grafton, MA; Christopher Ethier of Johnston, RI, and Cynthia Ethier of Shrewsbury, MA.    Mrs. Ethier was predeceased by her daughter, Michelle Ethier-Lazo, who died September 14, 2020. She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Jennifer Ellison, James (Jay) Ethier and his wife, Lori, Garret Lazo, and Benjamin Lazo; 4 great-grandchildren: Hailey, Taylor, Adelyn, and Blake; and by her brothers Robert Welsh of Puyallup, Washington, and Michael Welsh of East Longmeadow, MA, as well as by many nephews, nieces, and friends.  She is predeceased by her brothers, William Welsh and Richard Welsh, and her sister, Kathleen Welsh.

Calling hours will be Friday, January 16, from 4-6PM, at Sansoucy Funeral Home, 40 Marcy Street, Southbridge, MA.  A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Ethier will be Saturday, January 17, at 11AM, in St. Christopher's Church, 16 Sturbridge Road, Brimfield, MA.  Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home from 9-10AM prior to the Funeral Mass.  Burial will immediately follow in Brimfield Cemetery, 28 Wales Road, Brimfield, MA.  The family requests in lieu of flowers that you kindly consider making memorial donations in Maureen's memory to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the International Guild of Miniature Artisans, P.O. Box 3643, Hollywood, FL 33083.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maureen Anne (Welsh) Ethier, please visit our floral store.