Ethel Stuky Michaelis

​CYPRESS, CA - Ethel Stuky Michaelis, age 97, died peacefully at home, with her family by her side on March 6, 2017 at 1:50 am.

She was born, July 13, 1919 in Maunie, Illinois to Walter Stuky and Anna Williams Stuky. She was the twin sister of Eathel Zwahlen and the youngest of 7 children.

Ethel graduated from high school in Carmi, Illinois, in 1939. She continued her education and received her certification as a Registered X-Ray Technician in 1942.

After meeting the love of her life in Evansville, Indiana, Ethel married Wolfgang Michaelis, a German refugee, in 1951. A year later they had their first daughter, Freya and second daughter Margot in 1953. The family moved from the mid-west to San Jose, California in 1959. Ethel worked as an X-Ray Technician at the San Jose Medical Clinic and then for Dr.’s Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons until she retired in 1983 at age 65.

She loved the outdoors, bird watching, dancing, swimming, bowling, listening to music, singing, traveling, going to the health spa, church, and reading her Bible.

Ethel will be remembered for her joyful laughter, many adages, beautiful crocheting, and her singing and dancing.

She is survived by daughters Freya Festa and Margot Kemp, son’s-in-law Burt Festa and Robert Kemp, grandchildren David, Anna, Amie, Hillary, and Kendall, their spouses Tim McMullen and Mike Tucker, great grandchild Thomas Conrad, and other beloved relatives.

There will be a memorial service at Los Gatos Memorial Park, 2255 Los Gatos-Almaden Road, San Jose, CA 95124, March 13 at 11:00 am for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to: Eden Hospice, 3333 S Brea Canyon Rd #107, Diamond Bar, CA 91765; Cypress Church, 6143 Ball Rd, Cypress, CA 90630; or Lorraine’s Guest House 5744 Belle Ave. Cypress, CA 90630.