HUNTINGTON – Ethel F. (Tierney) Pero, 97, long time resident of Huntington, MA, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed peacefully on January 5, 2013 in Wilbraham MA. She was born January 13, 1915 to the late Laura and Peter Tierney in Holyoke, MA.
A graduate of Holyoke High School, she worked in her early years as a bookkeeper in Holyoke before marrying and moving to Huntington. Devoted especially to her children, grandchildren and family, she provided a loving home in Huntington for over 70 years. She worked within the Town of Huntington in many capacities, primarily as a library assistant at Gateway Regional High School. She loved all children, was especially devoted to helping the students at Gateway and was most pleased to see them achieve their goals. The eldest resident of Huntington for the past several years, she was a member of St. Thomas Church and volunteer with the town’s Food Bank. Ethel loved to sew, knit and crochet, making many clothes and accessories for family, friends and neighbors. She loved to feed the birds and grow vegetables in her garden. Her annual tradition of making zucchini relish from the yearly harvest will be greatly missed.
Ethel was predeceased by her husband, Kyle S. Pero, former Huntington and Gateway Regional School Committee Chairman in 1983, as well as her brothers; John and Peter Tierney; and sisters, Lillian Lambert and Dorothy Behmke. She leaves her son, Kyle F. Pero and his wife Mary Kay of Salisbury, CT; her daughter, Nancy (Pero) Ruscio and her husband Thomas of Wilbraham, MA; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The family is most grateful to Dr. Gurpal Kingra of Westfield and the Baystate VNA and Hospice for their compassionate care.
Visiting hours at O’Brien Hilltown Funeral Home in Huntington will be on Saturday, January 12th from 11:30-1:30 p.m. prior to Mass at Holy Family Parish in Russell at 2:00 p.m. Burial in St. Thomas Cemetery will be in the Spring.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Hilltown Community Ambulance, 1 Bromley Road, Huntington, MA 01050 or to the Baystate VNA and Hospice, 50 Maple Street, Springfield, MA 01102.
