Ida Etherington

Long time Madison, Connecticut resident, Ida Etherington, died on the morning of Friday, July 10, 2026, at the age of 97 in Madison. She was born on May 17, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois to Dorothy Willis and Felice Caruso, who predeceased her.

Ida grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. She received a B.S. from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1951 and a Masters in Industrial Psychology from the University of New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, in 1983.

She taught kindergarten in Illinois, Indiana and Connecticut. Ida was a licensed Realtor for 45 years beginning in 1972 and worked for Shorelands Realty, Gould Agency, and Sotheby’s and was rumored to have sold or rented every house in Madison at least twice. In 2014 she was recognized as a Realtor Emeritus for her 40 plus years in the profession.

Ida is survived by her children: Geoffrey Etherington III (and his wife Rae) of Putnam Valley, New York; Amy Etherington (and her husband David Model and their children, Samantha Wei and David “Yoonk”) of Carlisle, Massachusetts; and Harold Etherington of Durham, Connecticut (and his son Luis); and her brothers: F. Willis (Bill) Caruso and George (and his wife Jan) Caruso; and many nieces and nephews: Magi Lee and Bill, John, Tom, Jeanne, Frank and Phillip Caruso and Felicia Rice.

Ida will be missed by friends and neighbors from her 60 years in Madison and was a well-known figure in Madison and neighboring towns. She was a devoted bridge player gathering weekly with friends for fierce games and lively conversation for decades. She volunteered for VNA, League of Women Voters, PTA and on and on. A past President and board member of the Shorelands Drive Association she was a strong advocate for the community.

She loved the passing of the seasons at the beach in Madison and will be remembered for hosting warm holiday gatherings, legendary summer parties, school reunions, anniversaries and weddings at her beach house overlooking Long Island Sound. She welcomed countless strangers to her home who left fast friends and came to see her year after year.

The family is planning a memorial gathering for Ida in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations in her memory to: Madison Ambulance Association, Inc., 9 Old Route 79, Madison, CT 06443; or Madison Hose Company #1, P.O. Box 573, Madison, CT 06443.