Ethylmae Birkey, 92, of Mendota died June 24, 2011, in Mendota Lutheran Home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church, Mendota, with the Rev. Michael Morrell officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday in Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. She was born Feb. 8, 1919, in Walnut to Edward and Pauline (Ioder) Baumgartner. She married Robert Birkey on Nov. 15, 1945, in Walnut. She was a 1936 graduate of Walnut Community High School and graduated in 1940 from Freeport Memorial Hospital's registered nurse program affiliated with Cook County Hospital, Chicago. During World War II, she was employed by Dr. Howard M. Edwards Sr. in Dixon and then as a private duty nurse after moving to Princeton. She then assisted her husband in operating their business, Birkey's Home Furnishings, in Mendota from 1958- 1974. Known as "Mrs. B.," she was employed at Mendota Lutheran Home for 28 years and was awarded the Life Service Network Shining Star certificate when she retired in 2001. She also was the first recipient of the Caroline Schaller Outstanding Service Award during her employment at Mendota Lutheran Home. Mrs. Birkey was a past executive member of Mendota Federated Women's Club and Mendota Community Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Mendota and the choir and church circles. She is survived by two daughters, Kaye (Paul) Stoops of Newburgh, Ind., and Jill (John) Ridder of Naperville, four grandchildren, Jennifer Stoops, Sara Gallegos, Jenna Kronsted and Matthew Kronsted; two stepgrandchildren, Elizabeth Ridder and Joe Ridder; one great-grandson, Chase Gallegos; and one nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2008, one sister and one nephew. Pallbearers for will be Andrew Birkey, Joe Birkey, Wayne Lund, Jerry Denault, Dale Denault and Mike Pierce. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Birkey, Jim Armstrong, Bruce Wilhelm and Dennis Roling. Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church or Mendota Lutheran Home.