Ethelyn M. (Ellis) Armstrong, 90

Ethelyn M. (Ellis) Armstrong, age 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 26, 2023, at the Mary Ann Morse Nursing and Rehab Center in Natick, Massachusetts. She was born in Blackstone, Massachusetts on June 1, 1933, she was the eldest child of the late Raymond and Ethel (Young) Ellis. Ethelyn was raised in Franklin, where she participated in school sports and graduated from Franklin High School in 1951.
Ethelyn worked as a Telephone Operator in Franklin as a teen and helped her parents in bringing up her siblings. After high school she married Robert G. Armstrong of Franklin. They raised their children Robert G. Armstrong, Jr., Michael J. Armstrong, and George T. Armstrong in Bellingham and Franklin into their early teens. Their 4th son David A. Armstrong passed away as an infant.
Ethelyn later married William E. (Bill) Warburton (Deceased) of Foxboro MA. They merged her Armstrong boys with Bill's sons Franklin T Warburton, Michael E. Warburton and William E. Warburton Jr in their home in Foxboro where Ethelyn thoroughly enjoyed all of the challenges and rewards of mothering the 6 young men.
After Bill passed away in 2004 Ethelyn married Thomas J. Armstrong (Deceased) of Uxbridge MA.
Ethelyn's devotion to the Nursing profession helped her express her kind and giving nature to its fullest. She started her work in the field in her mid-thirties taking calls at Pondville Hospital in Norfolk, then earned her LPN and RN credentials that carried her through over 40 years in Nursing into her mid-70's. Her assignments ranged from nursing at Pondville, a cancer care facility where she cared for her mom through her final stages of life to intensive care posts and Director of Nursing roles at Norwood and Milford Hospitals. Ethelyn's work earned her the recognition of many in her field and included being invited to work on a team shaping the future of nursing in the Boston area. Her final nursing work in retirement was caring for the elderly at The Maples Nursing home in Wrentham, MA.
Being outdoors and travelling were Ethelyn's greatest pleasures. Whether Beach-buggying on Nauset beach in Orleans or summering at White Horse Beach in Manomet where she also worked as a waitress at The Beachway, she always made sure her children had wonderful experiences. Later in life as a grandmother and Aunt she carried that tradition on by co-hosting Summer excursions for 10-12 of the family's kids to a coastal destinations with a few of her sisters.
With her husband Bill they created a small Farm at their home in Norfolk where Bill had a variety of farm animals and she gardened and grew crops of vegetables that she shared with the family.
Ethelyn truly enjoyed visiting family around the country. She and Bill made annual trips to New Orleans to visit with his sons Frank and Mike. Those trips often included stops to visit other relatives – or casinos. She was an avid Bingo player throughout her life and expanded on that with regular trips to Foxwoods with other cherished family members.
In addition to her sons and stepsons she was the sister of Donna Morris of Natick, Raymond "Butch" Ellis of Cape Cod, Susan Hanley of Warwick, Rhode Island, the late June Landry, the late Rae Kline, the late Allen Ellis and the late Carolyn Buck.
She was the loving grandmother of Becky Armstrong of Woonsocket, RI, Barry Armstrong of Boston, MA, Bethany Armstrong of TN and the late Lisa Armstrong of BelAir, MD., Devin and Jaden Sicari of Woonsocket RI, Logan Armstrong of Idaho and Oliver Armstrong of Hawaii.
Ethelyn is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Her greatest hope would simply be that her dozens of family and friends remember her fondly as a good and caring person. Ethelyn was an Angel of Mercy in the truest sense.
Her family would like to thank her sister Angels of Mercy at the Mary Ann Morse Nursing care center for the commitment they showed in caring for her in her struggle with Dementia over the last 3.5 years.
Her funeral will be held on Saturday, December 30 in the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 131 Main Street, Franklin at 10:00a.m.
Burial will follow in City Mills Cemetery, Franklin.
Calling hours will be on Friday, December 29 from 4-7 p.m. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, Ethelyn would request that donations be made to Boston Children's Hospital at https://www.childrenshospital.org or to fund the fight against Dementia and Alzheimer's at https://www.dementiasociety.org.