Ethiopia was born to Sahle Zewelde and Mamite Habte-Michael in Dire Dewa, Ethiopia. She graduated from Dire Dewa High School and went on to earn her BA in nursing at Kadamade Haile Selassie University Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She then received her Masters degree from the University of Sweden, Stockholm. She further specialized in neonatal pediatric nursing at London University in England. Ethiopia was a member of the Academy of Neonatal Nursing. She retired from the Osteopathic Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas as the head nurse of the neonatal unit. She also had a passion for cooking, reading, volunteering, and nutrition.
She is survived by her sister, Almaz Sahle. Although Ethiopia had no biological children, she considered her nephew and nieces, Samon Belaineh, Yonas Belaineh, Sophia Belaineh, and Hirut Tensaye, to be her children. She is also survived by her great nieces and nephews, Mikelina, Simmon, Mahalet Belaineh; Rebecca Samuel; Mikyas and Lulit Samson; and Kalab Alemu.
