Ethel V. Pertuso Morrill

Born July 30, 1936 in Nashville, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Rosa E. (Crowder) Sowell and the late Felix K. Sowell Sr. of Nashville, Tennessee. She was the former wife of the late James A. Pertuso of Providence, Rhode Island.

Ethel worked as a nurse's aide at St. Elizabeth’s Nursing Home in Providence for 18 years followed by work in home health care. She became one of the first preceptors at VNA of Rhode Island in training aides for hospice care.

She was the proud mother of JoAnn M. Sullivan and her husband James of West Warwick, Rhode Island and Jan R. Carpenter and her husband Ken of Leander, Texas, the late James R. Pertuso and the late Jay M. Pertuso. She was the mother-in-law of Danielle Pertuso (Jay). She was the beloved Nana to 5 beautiful grandchildren, Meghan, Gregory, Sarah, James and Olivia, and the treasured Great Nana to Connor and Wren. She was the aunt and great aunt of many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Mary L. Tyas and Felix K. Sowell Jr.

Beyond her family, Ethel had a passion for caring for people, reading, and in her words being a “bingo nut”. A longtime resident of Plaza Esperanza in West Warwick, she leaves behind many close friends. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, her wit, her love of all things sweet, her love for her daily numbers, and her devotion to her family and friends.

A visitation will be held for Ethel on Saturday, April 6th from 8:30-9:30 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 9:30 a.m. celebrating Ethel’s life at Russell J. Boyle Funeral Home at 142 Centerville Road Warwick, Rhode Island. Burial will follow at the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude’s Place Memphis, TN 38105. https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html