Ethel M. Parise, 92, of Kenosha passed away peacefully with her devoted and loving son Arnold at her side on Friday, November 16, 2018 at Froedtert South – Kenosha Medical Center Campus. As a devout Christian she is now living in Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Her passing came twenty years after that of her beloved husband of 48 years, Victor.

Born in Kenosha on May 7, 1926 she was the first child of Arnold E. and Marie (Smerling) Yabs.

Ethel received her local education at Durkee Elementary, Lincoln Jr. High, and Kenosha High School where she graduated in June 1944. Upon graduation during the Second World War she participated in the United States war effort by working in local factories for a year. Using her earnings, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in 1949 with a major in English. Instead of moving to New York City with the intention of becoming a writer she moved back to Kenosha to work in the office of Frost Company until marriage and children came along.

Ethel married Vito (Victor) Parise on March 4, 1950 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Kenosha. They had three sons, Michael, Christopher, and Arnold. She later returned to college to obtain her Wisconsin Teaching Certification. This began a 22 year career with the Kenosha Unified Schools where she was an upper elementary teacher at Cordelia Harvey Elementary School. She retired in June 1988.

By her own accounts Ethel had a wonderful 30 year retirement that she shared with many fine people. Her interests were wide and varied. She traveled overseas many times on various trips to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. While most were with her husband other memorable ones were with her sister Pat and her husband John Ryall and best friend Betty Hodal.  She liked watching her favorite game shows The Price is Right, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. She loved the Foreign Film Series at UW-Parkside since it began. She was a much-sought-after bridge player and participated in many clubs. Most importantly, she was a faithful member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Kenosha which was her spiritual family. She was in the United Methodist Women where she was president and held other offices.  Other clubs and organizations were Woman’s Club of Kenosha where she was co-president and held other offices, Kenosha County Retired Educators Association where she was also president, American Association of University Women, and Great Books and Adventures in Lifelong Learning at UW-Parkside. Ethel truly lived a useful life to the fullest in the long life that she had.

She is survived by her son, Arnold of Kenosha who was also her friend, confidant, household member and caregiver, her other loving son, Christopher (Joyce) Parise of Pleasant Prairie; grandsons Ritchie Parise of  Milwaukee and Wayne Cole of  Kenosha and brother-in-law, John Ryall of Katy, Texas. She also had many nieces, nephews, other relatives and countless good friends. Ethel will be greatly missed by all.

Besides her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by husband Victor (Vito) on November 17, 1998, son Michael on June 14, 2000, and sister, Patricia Ryall on July 11, 2008.

The family of Ethel Parise would like to thank the dedicated people of Froedtert South, Brookside Care Center, Willowbrook Assisted Living, and Kindred-at-Home who provided care for Ethel this year.

Service Info

Funeral Services honoring Ethel’s life will held on Friday, November 30, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 4600 60th St. Inurnment will take place in the spring at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.