Obituary of Ethel V. Kidd

Born March 29, 1913, in Rochester, NY, to Merritt C. and Edith (Gurnee) Van Ostrand, died July 7, 2011, in the Episcopal Church Home. A service of remembrance will be held on September 10, 2011 at 10:AM in the Chapel at the Episcopal Church Home (505 Mt. Hope Ave.). Interment will be in Parishville, NY. Ethel grew up in Marion, NY. In 1932 she graduated from the Eastman Dental Dispensary in Rochester, NY, as a dental hygienist. In 1936 Ethel and Barnett H. Corbin were married in Rochester. After living in Savannah, NY, in 1940 they moved to Potsdam, NY, where their two children Richard L. And Dorothy H. were born. In 1944 they moved to Parishville, NY, where Ethel was active in church, Eastern Star, and many community activities, all while working as a dental hygienist in Potsdam. She returned to Potsdam after Barney’s death, where she married Earl Kidd in 1968. They moved to Leesburg, FL, but after Earl’s death in 1980 she relocated to Henrietta, NY, to be close to daughter Dottie and her family. It was here that she met and partnered with Howard Stevens. To say that Ethel enjoyed life and loved people would be an understatement. It is a tribute that several nephews and nieces maintained close contact with her. We all admired and valued her irrepressible optimism, wit, grace, sense of humor, and generosity – she was our “Auntie Mame.” And she was a wonderful mother who was as kind to her stepsons and their families as she was to her own children. Ethel had an open mind and was interested in so many things. She enjoyed traveling to Germany, Greece, Thailand (she rode an elephant!), Yugoslavia, and Austria to visit Dick and his family, as well as throughout the United States. Ethel was an accomplished pianist who loved playing duets with her violinist father and told of playing accompaniment for silent movies. In retirement, she became an accomplished bowler and a crossword puzzle fan and she continued winning at Bridge, Cribbage and Canasta. After dabbling in ceramics, Ethel became an expert quilter, and many family and friends will be reminded of her when they use the beautiful quilts and place mats she made for them. Ethel was pre-deceased by husbands Barnett Corbin (1965) and Earl Kidd (1980), stepson John Kidd (2005), son-in-law Richard Eckardt (2011) and partner Howard Stevens (2009). She is survived by son Richard (Louise Longale) Corbin, of Bozeman, MT, daughter Dorothy Eckardt, of Henrietta, NY, step-son Earl (Lynette) Kidd, Jr., of Mukilteo, WA, and Pamela Kidd of Colorado Springs, CO. Grandchildren include Tatyana Corbin of Leesburg, VA, Andrew (Tony Mendez) Corbin of New York City, Lisa (Eckardt) Nevol (Scott) with children Grace and Megan of Rochester, NY, Mary Karen (Eckardt) Petroske (Brent Hoover) with children Natalie and Danielle Petroske and Paige Hoover of Victor, NY, Jenny (Eckardt) Vosburgh with children Sarah, Noah and Rebekah and their father Devin of Rochester, NY, and Sophie (Kidd) Vertefeuille (Jason) with son Noah Tulp of Silverdale, WA. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held in the Chapel at the Episcopal Church Home (505 Mt. Hope Ave.) on SATURDAY (9/10/11) at 10:00 AM. The family wish to express special thanks to the staff of the Episcopal Church Home, particularly care givers Cindy Lewis and Georgia Robinson, for the kind, considerate, and loving care they gave Ethel and her family. In lieu of flowers, donations in celebration of Ethel’s full life, may be made to the Episcopal Church Home, 505 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester, NY. 14620. Home Rochester, New York Birthplace Rochester, New York Donations Episcopal Church Home 505 Mt. Hope Ave. Rochester, NY. 14620.