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ETHEL MAY SLEEPER, b. Cookshire, Quebec 1892

From the WORCESTER TELEGRAM OBITUARY: Friday, August 29, 1986 ETHEL RUSSELL, 94; WAS SOPRANO SOLOIST ETHEL (SLEEPER) RUSSELL, 94, of 6150 Gulfport Blvd., St. Petersburg, Fla., died yesterday in Central Park Lodge, Pinellas Park, Fla. Her husband, RAYMOND F. RUSSELL, died in 1949. Her father was founder of SLEEPER & HARTLEY, Inc., wire machinery at 335 Chandler Street. He was also a noted inventor. She leaves two sons, RICHARD S. RUSSELL of Holden and FRANK S. RUSSELL of Northboro; a sister, VERNA S. WELCH of Worcester, five grandchildren; a great grandchild, and a niece, SHIRLEY CLIFFORD, of Shrewsbury. Born in Cookshire, Quebec, she lived in Worcester many years before moving to Florida in 1949. She once lived on Otsego Road. Her mother was the late LILLY ANN (HOPKINSON)SLEEPER and her daughter the late SALLY SLEEPER RUSSELL(SCHNEIDER) of St. Petersburg. Mrs. RUSSELL graduated from Stanstead Academy in Canada (and Classical High School in Worcester) and attended New England conservatory of Music and Clark University. She appeared in many concerts as a soprano soloist in Florida and New England, and also sang at Plymouth Congregational Church in Worcester and Leominister Unitarian Church. While in Worcester, she was a member of the Music Student's Club of Worcester, Hall Club, Civic Music Club, Worcester Art Museum, was a volunteer at Worcester Memorial Hospital. During World War 11, she served with the American Women's Voluntary Service Motor Corps. Mrs. RUSSELL was a member of the Tides Bath Club of Redington Beach, St. Petersburg Yacht Club and the Garden Club of St. Petersburg, and her church choir. Private funeral services will be Tuesday in St. Petersburg, with burial Thursday in Royal Palm Cemetery, St. Petersburg. John S. Rhodes Funeral Home, St. Petersburg, is directing arrangements.

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