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Ethel Kleis Matthews, 86, of Old Saybrook, passed away Jan. 2, surrounded by her family. Born in Torrington, Ethel was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Laska) Kleis. She lived in Granby for 13 years; after that, she moved to Old Saybrook and lived there for 45 years. Ethel adored the friendly residents, churches, library, schools, stores, restaurants, beaches, Connecticut River, and Long Island Sound in the town of Old Saybrook.

Ethel graduated from the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing in 1954, with a certified registered nurse (R.N.) degree. She worked as an R.N. at Hartford Hospital for 25 years and served as secretary for the Granby Ambulance Association. Highly competent, kind, and caring, Ethel immensely enjoyed her nursing career and was always helpful and compassionate toward others—family, friends, neighbors, and patients. She was indisputably the best mother and grandmother any child could have; her love for her daughters, granddaughter, and grandson knew no bounds.

Ethel is survived by her daughters Donna Mary Gosselin (Christopher) of Old Saybrook and Denise Louise Matthews of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; a granddaughter, Christina Gosselin of Old Saybrook; a grandson, Camron Gosselin of Old Saybrook; a brother-in-law, Brian Turley; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Kleis; a brother-in-law, Robert Krepcio (Marion); and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ethel was preceded in death by her mother Mary (Laska) Kleis; her father John Kleis; her husband R. Kenneth Langille, who was father to Donna and Denise; her mother-in-law Mary (Solowsky) Langille; her father-in-law Ralph G. Langille; her sisters Mary Ann (Kleis) Krepcio and Ellen (Kleis) Turley; her brothers John and Emil Kleis; and her sister-in-law Sylvia Kleis.

Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org or the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation at www.tbbcf.org.