Born on April 27, 1931, Ethel was predeceased by her parents, Charles & Evelyn Dougherty as well as her siblings, Carole (Dougherty) Schoedel, Everett Dougherty, and Lois (Dougherty) Sommers, and also by her later-in-life partner Hank Trafford. She is survived by her daughter Gail (Hersey) Braswell, and three sons; Mark, Bruce, and Roy Hersey, by nine grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
Ethel was born in Richmond Hill, NY where she grew up and graduated from Queens College. Near there, she married Fredrick B. Hersey to whom she had her four children. They later divorced after moving to Brick in Ocean County, NJ, where she had a 27 year career in social services, retiring as a supervisor at the Ocean County Welfare Board.
In retirement, Ethel moved to Chesapeake and was an active volunteer for many years at Chesapeake Regional Hospital, the YMCA, and the March of Dimes. She was also a member of the “Newcomers Club” and a group of friends that called themselves the “Recycled Teenagers”.
Ethel was a quiet force of gentle humanity and the thread that maintained her family ties. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crossword puzzles, reading biographies and most of all, being with her family.
A memorial service followed by a celebration of Ethel's life will be held on Friday, November 28 at The Catholic Church of St. Mark's, 1505 Kempsville Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23464. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mark’s or to the March of Dimes at 860 Greenbrier Cir Ste 502, Chesapeake, VA 23320
