Andrea Lea Ether
February 8, 1957 — October 30, 2023
Published on website of Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home
Andi Ether February 8, 1957 — October 30, 2023 Niles, Michigan
Andrea Lea Ether, age 66 years of Niles, Michigan; wife, mother, grandmother, sister, homeschooler, quilter, and follower of Jesus Christ died peacefully Monday evening, October 30, 2023 with her family gathered at her bedside at her home following an extended illness.
She was born on February 8, 1957 in Elkhart, Indiana to Glen E. and Carol M. (Thomas) Staples and was graduated from Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana. She continued her education at Anderson (Indiana) College (now Anderson University) where she earned a bachelors degree, and at Indiana University, earning a Master of Science degree in Public Relations. She began a career in Human Resources in the offices of Holy Cross Health Systems, and later at Bendix Aerospace.
While in that H.R. office at Bendix, the young engineer, Russ Ether came to Miss Staples with a workplace concern on which they agreed. They agreed in a few other areas, and on June 13, 1987 at Madeline Bertrand County Park in Niles she married Russell N. Ether, with whom she celebrated last June the thirty-sixth anniversary of their wedding.
Her true life’s work was at home, as a full-time homemaker, housekeeper, and Mom, successfully homeschooling her three children. Having done so and sent them off to college, she re-entered the workforce, in the offices of Press-Ganey Associates for a few years before retirement.
Andi was a member of the Community Evangelical Free Church – CEFC – in Niles where she also led a Comfort Quilts ministry. She enjoyed worship music, would sing in choirs at CEFC, and sang with her daughters. The quilt ministry was a natural extension of the quilting and sewing room at her home from where many relatives and friends were blessed with her loving art. She was a fan of the University of Notre Dame Football team, best enjoyed in the company of friends at a watch party for televised games.
Surviving family includes her husband, Russ Ether and their children, Emily (& Chad) Waddington of Dayton, Ohio, April Ether of Mishawaka, and Jonathan Ether of Mishawaka; grandson, Liam Waddington; and Andi’s sister, Cristi Staples of Granger, Indiana, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her siblings, Kim Staples and Brett Staples.
The Memorial Service for Andi Ether will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Community Evangelical Free Church, 120 East Bertrand Road, south of Niles, with family friend, Larry G. Barrett officiating. Andi’s family gathered privately on Thursday for interment at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at:
Andi clearly loved life, and loved the people in her life, caring for the employees at her companies, caring for folks needing the comfort of a quilt, and caring for her children and her husband; always mindful that God loved her first.