Ethel (Libman) Friedman

The full and active life of Ethel L. Friedman ended on Thursday, June 13, 2013. Thanks to the compassionate caregivers at Hughes Health and Rehabilitation and Masonicare Partners, she died as she lived, with dignity and in peace. Only child of Rebecca (Wieber) and Louis Libman, Ethel was born in Hartford, moved to West Hartford with her late husband, Jacob “Jack” in 1955, and returned to Hartford in 1978. She and Jack enjoyed the warmth of family and friends, domestic and international travel, life-long learning, and the companionship of neighbors at the Woodland House. Ethel’s professional life was dedicated to the education of young children. As a teacher-clinician at the Children’s Clinic of the Institute of Living, now affiliated with Hartford Hospital, she worked with other gifted practitioners who pioneered treatment techniques and strategies to assist very young children with autism. In recent years, she knitted and donated hundreds of items to comfort members of the community in greatest need. Her mind and hands were always busy. Intelligent, fiercely independent, stylish, witty, and so wise, Ethel’s smile would light up a room. Her life and legacy will be celebrated by loving daughter, Rebecca and devoted son-in-law, Michael M. Danchak of Higganum, beloved family especially Frances S. Friedman of West Hartford, Richard S. Davis and his wife Susan B. Cantrick of Paris, France, who she adored as her own children, and many loyal friends including Nona P. Dorman of Hartford. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 16, 2013 at Chevry Lomday Meshnayes Cemetery, Garden Street off Tower Avenue, Hartford. Ethel’s friends are invited to gather in the Community Room of the Woodland House, 31 Woodland Street, Hartford, immediately following the service and until 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to Masonicare Partners Home Health & Hospice, 111 Founders Plaza, East Hartford, CT 06108, or the Grace S. Webb School, Hartford Hospital, c/o Development Fund, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT. For further information or directions, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm