ELLSWORTH Ethel Leona (Applebee) Hinckley, 92, most recently a resident of Eddy Village Green in Cohoes, N.Y., passed away Friday, July 19, 2019. The Hinckley family highly appreciated the compassionate care that Ethel received while a resident at Eddy Village Green.
Ethel was born on Jan. 30, 1927, in Dover-Foxcroft, to Clarence and Emma (Dyer) Applebee. Ethel’s four brothers Larry, Ray, Harold and Everett, were all Army veterans. Ethel’s life was shaped from age 2 by the massive events of her youth: the Great Depression (1929-1941), American involvement in World War II (1941-1945) and the Great Fire in Bar Harbor (1947). In particular, her brother Ray was a prisoner of war, captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. Mom worked as a housekeeper in the mansions of “Millionaire’s Row” in Bar Harbor as a teenager. Ethel attended Ellsworth schools and graduated from EHS in 1945 with the graduation ceremony sandwiched between victory over Germany (May 8) and victory over Japan (Aug. 14). She will be missed at the 75th class reunion next year.
After a brief career as a telephone operator at AT&T and a major road trip to Indiana, Ethel married Malcolm Hollis Estey Hinckley on Nov. 18, 1950. First child Jeffrey arrived nine months later. The early years of Ethel and Mac’s married life were spent in homes in Ellsworth and Bucksport before they bought their home of 53 years on Bayview Avenue in Ellsworth.
Ethel drove a car exactly once in her life, so her later married years were often spent in company of several female friends with a car. They shopped hard and often — from Bar Harbor to Bangor, from Blue Hill to Belfast. Mom was always in search of elusive special colors of wool that she braided into rugs. She was also a vaunted “horse trader” for various pieces of antique furniture. The toxic fumes from the Zip Strip she used in refinishing furniture undoubtedly hastened her death. In later years, Ethel became an accomplished painter, mostly in oils. Her children cherish a number of her paintings. In later years, Mom became an avid collector of dolls. Ethel counted many people as friends (especially those who drove!). Super-special friends included Terry Patten, Joyce Schoppe and Pat Frank.
As a member of the Greatest Generation, Mom was a tireless fundraiser for charitable causes, especially when her four kids were still at home. She frequently raised money for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and UNICEF. Ethel was also one of the initial fundraisers for the Ellsworth YMCA. Her main method of raising money was bake sales and yard sales. Mom was a great cook and her cooking, especially desserts, was always in high demand at these events.
Ethel is survived by son Jeff , daughter Patti-Jean, son Scott (wife Patti), son Kelly (wife Carole), grandson Kirk (fiancée Erica), grandson Eric (wife Melissa), granddaughter Nicole (husband Stephen) and grandsons Christopher (wife Johanna) and Ryan (SO Marissa), great-grandchildren Abigail, Jordan, Joclyn, Tyler, Kyle, Victoria, Jason and Connor and many nephews, nieces, great-nieces and great-nephews. Ethel was predeceased by her parents, her four brothers, her husband, great-grandson Cameron, niece Cathy, nephew Michael, great-nephew Dana and great-niece Olive.
A viewing was held in Cohoes, N.Y., on July 21. An informal nondenominational graveside service will be held at Seaside Cemetery in Blue Hill, where Ethel will be laid to rest beside her husband, Mac.
Children were always Ethel’s greatest cause and concern. With that in mind, her family would appreciate it if friends consider donations in Ethel’s name to the Down East Family YMCA, 238 State St., Ellsworth, ME 04605 or to the Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State St., Ellsworth, ME 04605.
“My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends – It gives a lovely light!” “First Fig” by Edna St. Vincent Millay.