Obituary: Ethel "Pete" Durnell

A graveside service for Ethel "Pete" Durnell, 94, will be held at Lone Mountain Cemetery at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 9th, 2013. Mrs. Durnell's ashes will be placed next to those of her husband, Robert Scott Durnell, in the military section of the cemetery.

Mrs. Durnell passed very peacefully at Mt. Springs assisted living; the caring staff there truly loved her. She lived in Carson City for almost ten years, moving from San Diego, Calif.

She was born in Chicago, Ill., and lived there until her marriage to Robert in 1946. They were married nearly 60 years. It was a marriage of love, respect, kindness, and goodness of spirit.

"Pete" was an engineer, and during WWII she taught communication officers how to repair teletype machines in the field. It was at the teletype school that she met Robert. They married when he returned from the South Pacific in 1946.

Mrs. Durnell is survived by her daughter, Diana; her niece, Barbara Jeannette McGarry-Hunter (Mike); and her nephew, Edward McGarry.

The family wishes to thank St. Mary's Hospice for their invaluable help both during and after her passing.

"Pete" was a loving wife, mother and friend, and a gentle soul beloved by all who were fortunate enough to know her. She genuinely cared for and loved people and life. She will be greatly missed, but all who know her feel she's very happily reunited now with her husband, as well as earlier family and friends.

"Pete" could wear a hat like nobody's business, and had class and style. Yet it was her sweetness which people will remember the most.