Age 83. Ethel was born in Covington, Michigan on July 15, 1931 to Victor and Olga (Sikkala) Niemi. She attended Covington Township schools and graduated from L'anse High School in 1949.

On October 24, 1959 she married the late John R. Turunen (d. 01-30-10). They started a family and lived in Royal Oak, Michigan, Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Bloomfield Hills. Ethel and John celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in October 2009 over a long weekend in Saugatuck, Michigan with their immediate family.


Ethel was a wonderful decorator and had a perfectionist eye. She was an amazing cook and enjoyed entertaining. Aside from raising her family and always keeping her Bloomfield Hills home immaculate, she also had many hobbies and interests including her garden, antiques and her granddaughter.


Ethel is survived by her daughters Suzanne (Ken) Paul and Amy Turunen (fiancée Mark Gadzinski), her granddaughter Olivia Paul, her sister Irene Johnson of Florida and her brother Alden Niemi of Michigan.
She was preceded in death by her husband John and her brothers Bernard, Melvin and Paul Niemi.