ALLEN, Ethel Marietta – It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Ethel (Corbin), 81 years of age of Wilmot Station on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Born April 1, 1930, she was the eldest daughter of the late Lowell and Lillian (Hatt) Corbin. Ethel enjoyed a quiet married life, spending past years as a homemaker, gardener and raising her five daughters. She enjoyed spending countless hours a day outside working in the gardens and took great pride in the fresh produce grown on the homestead land for her family. In later years, as the family grew up and pursued their own adult lives, the necessity for large vegetable gardens no longer existed, her green thumb only slightly changed direction, and her flower gardens became a passionate pastime, enabling her to still spend day after day working outside in the sunshine. Ethel was in all sense of the word a true animal lover-with five girls constantly dragging home new pets, she became accustomed to having a house full of various animals. She fell in love with her first Siamese cat many years ago – she spoiled them terribly, raised them as her babies and allowed her latest cat “Sheeba” to become ruler of her home. Ethel was raised with strong Baptist beliefs and in her later years, while not actively participating in any one particular church, her faith and trust in the Lord never faltered. A tiny little woman with a heart of gold, always willing to help others when she was able. She was to her family the glue that always held us together. Now it is through the legacy of her kindness, her wisdom and her strength that will help guide those of us left behind to hopefully become as wonderful person as she was. She is survived by daughters, Mary (Donald) Sheridan, Bridgetown; Rose (Larry) Welton, Bridgewater; Sandra (Billy) Deveau, Greenwood; grandchildren, Bonnie, Tony, Randy, April, Nathan and Katie and ten great grandchildren; brothers, St. Clair (Shirley), Wilmot; Earle “Timmy” (Judy), Yarmouth; sisters, Daisy Hatt, Melvern Square; Edna Corbin, Wilmot; sister-in-law, Lorna Crouse, Torbrook and son-in-law, Tom Durling, Kingston. She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond; daughters, Linda Durling and Irene Allen and brother, Donald and an infant brother, Carl. Visitation was held Thursday, June 16, 2011 in the Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, (902) 825-3448, where the funeral service was held Friday, June 17, 2011, with Rev. David Phillips officiating. Interment will be in the Kingston United Cemetery. A reception for family and friends followed the service at the Melvern Square United Baptist Church Annex Building. Since our Mother was such an admirer of flowers, we welcome the beautiful décor of them at her services (especially from your own garden), however it is our wish that for those that bring flowers, please take them home with you to enjoy and remember our Mother fondly whenever you look at them. Donations in memory may be made to Victorian Order of Nurses- Annapolis Valley or a Charity of Choice. Online condolences may be made through: www.middletonfuneralhome.com