Ethel Reiff, 97 of Carroll, died Friday, April 28, 2023, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll surrounded by all her children.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Sue Twit and Rich Reiff. Gift Bearers and Casket Bearers will be Ethel’s grandchildren; son-in-law, Tom Twit is Eucharistic Minister. Burial will be in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Mt. Carmel.
Visitation will be from 9:30-10:45 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Lawrence Church prior to the Funeral Mass. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Ethel’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Ethel was the 10th of 13 children born to John and Anna (Niehaus) Staiert on January 3, 1926. On February 5, 1947, she was united in marriage to Ray Reiff at St. Francis Church in Maple River. To this union were five children. In addition to managing a busy household, Ethel was an excellent cook and baker. She also gardened, canned the fruits of her labors, raised chickens, and sold eggs.
Ethel applied her math skills to playing cards; bridge being her favorite game. She continued playing bridge in her recent 4 years living at Garden View Assisted Living and twice monthly at Orchard View. In earlier years she played in bridge marathons at local churches.
Ethel contributed to the community by volunteering with St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary, St. Lawrence Ladies Guild, New Hope Village Store, and delivering meals on wheels with her good friend, Norma Burns.
Additional hobbies included cross stitch, crocheting, and sewing. Always interested in health and fitness, she was an avid walker; a proud accomplishment was a second-place medal for the over 60 age group in a 10k (6.2 mile) run/walk at Swan Lake. Ethel and Ray enjoyed dancing, traveling, and camping trips with relatives and friends.
Ethel is survived by her children: Richard (Kathy) Reiff of Fitchburg, WI, Sue (Tom) Twit of Bennington, NE, Tom (Cheryl) Reiff of Coralville, Cindy (Alan) Kraus of Carroll, and Jean Reiff of Carroll; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Alice Staiert, Karen Schouten, Jean (Clifford) Eischeid, and Art Reiff; as well as other extended relatives.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ray Reiff; and her siblings: Loretta Reiff, Agnes Gehling, Rosina Wiederin, Hilda Bruch, Marita Heires, Anita Bellinghausen and Elmer, Henry, Walter, Edwin, Leo and Paul Staiert.