NORWICH – Ethel Taranto, 87, of North Broad Street, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at Wilson Hospital in Johnson City.
 Born September 15, 1921 in Oxford, Ethel was the daughter of LaVern and Jane (Brown) Leach. She graduated from Greene High School and worked as a telephone operator and at Bendix in Sidney before her marriage. In February of 1945, Ethel married Felix V. Taranto who died on January 19, 1982.  Following her marriage and raising her children, Ethel helped her husband in the operation of the family businesses, Taranto’s IGA, Taranto’s Liquor Store and Taranto’s Steak House in Oxford. Together, Ethel and Felix also owned several apartments locally.
 Ethel was a dedicated volunteer at Chenango Memorial Hospital where she worked in the gift shop, the coffee shop and at the reception desk.  She had given over 5,000 hours to the hospital.
 Ethel was a member of St. Bartholomew’s Church, the Ladies of Charity and of the Golden Agers.
 Ethel is survived by her children and their spouses, Carol and Robert Denz of Greene, Sharon and John Keegan of E. Amherst, J. Robert and Lucille Taranto of Victor, NY and Thomas and Terry Taranto of Baldwinsville; eight grandchildren, Chris (Michelle), Alison (Dan), Jeff (Carolynn), Brian, Michael (Nicole), Nicholas, Jennifer and Andrew; a great grandson, Michael; and her sister Eleanor Charles and her husband, Richard of Norwich. Several nieces and nephews also survive.  She was predeceased by two sisters, Helen Green and Lillian Petersen.
 A Mass of Resurrection for Ethel will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at St. Bartholomew’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Friends are invited to call from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Wilson Funeral Home.
 In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation, 179 North Broad St., Norwich, NY  13815.
 Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the Wilson Funeral Home website at:  http://wilsonfh.com.