Ethel Mae Yeager

Ethel Mae Yeager, 78, of Weirton, WV, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 19, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family and friends. She was born on July 27, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Harold and Ethel Madden.

To know Ethel was to know a woman who loved deeply, cared quietly, and found happiness in the simplest of things. Her life was not defined by grand gestures, but by the countless little ways she made the people and animals around her feel loved, cared for, and at home.

Ethel’s life was also a beautiful love story. She met her husband, John, a true American war hero, on a blind date, and from the very beginning, there was something special between them. They married on August 1, 1970. Together, they built a life rooted in love, loyalty, family, and a deep devotion to one another.

When John pursued his dream of becoming an attorney, Ethel stood beside him every step of the way. They moved to Morgantown, where Ethel worked at the WVU Bookstore while John attended law school. Their days were busy, but they always found ways to remind each other of their love. Sometimes that meant leaving little love notes for one another: a small token of affection that became treasured reminders of the life they were building together.

After John graduated, they returned to Weirton to open his law practice, where Ethel worked by his side as his legal secretary. She was his partner in every sense of the word. After the birth of their daughter, Ethel decided to continue her education and became a real estate agent. She found a second home at Guida Realty, where she spent more than 25 years helping people find houses to call home. She genuinely cared about the families she worked with and took great pride in helping people begin new chapters of their lives. It was never simply a job to Ethel. It was another way for her to care for people.

But the role Ethel treasured most was being a mother and grandmother. Family was the center of her world. Ethel was a kind and loving woman who never needed much to be happy. Give her time with the people she loved, a visit and a laugh with a friend, some time outdoors, animals nearby, or a good book, and she was content. She was especially proud of her granddaughter, Brianna. Ethel supported her every step of the way, attending as many of Brianna’s dance and sporting events as she possibly could. She could be found in the stands cheering her on, encouraging her, and taking pride in every accomplishment. She was not simply Brianna’s grandmother, she was one of her greatest supporters, her safe place, and someone who loved her with her whole heart. In recent years, Ethel and Brianna shared an especially deep bond. They shared countless everyday moments and became an important part of each other’s lives. Those ordinary moments; the conversations, laughter, the quiet times together; will become some of the most precious memories Brianna carries with her.

Ethel’s heart extended far beyond her family. She had an extraordinary love for animals that began when she was just a little girl growing up in Steubenville. She lived above her father’s gas station and would feed birds and squirrels from her window. Even as a child, she saw something that needed care and simply wanted to help. That never changed. Throughout her life, Ethel and her family rescued stray animals, giving them a safe place to belong. This even included a stray fox that her and John cared for. She loved watching birds and spending time with animals. In recent years, some of her happiest moments came from visiting the baby goats and horses at Double B Stables in Weirton. Those visits brought a special light to her face and warmth to her heart. She also cherished the weekly visits with friends and her neighbor Terry and her little puppy, affectionately known by Ethel as “Wiggle Butt.” It was moments like these that brought Ethel joy—simple, genuine moments that made her smile.

Ethel was a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband John Yeager Jr and her parents.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved by her daughter, Christina Glosser, son-in-law, Aaron Glosser, and her beloved granddaughter, Brianna Glosser (Nick Brown). In addition, she is also survived by her sisters-in-law Sherry Foglio (Tony), Cyndy Fisher (Rusty), and Nancy Ballato (Sars); brother-in-law Tim Yeager (Marla); many nieces, nephews, and lifelong friend Burla Williams and dear friend Linda McDonald.

Her family would like to express their deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to the ICU nurses and staff at WVU Medicine – Weirton Medical Center, especially nurse Erin and her daughter, who cared for Ethel with such compassion and kindness during an incredibly difficult time. The family is also forever grateful to Valley Hospice and its staff for the comfort, dignity, and support they provided, allowing Ethel’s final days to be centered around the people she loved.

Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM Saturday September 26th at Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton, WV, where a celebration of Ethel’s life will be held at 3:00 PM.

She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Union Cemetery in Steubenville, where their love story will continue in the hearts of those who knew them.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ethel’s memory to:

Double B Stables & Livestock
2935 Kings Creek Rd.
Weirton, WV 26062
Venmo: @DoubleBstables
Cash App: $AnnamarieBartley
PayPal: PayPal.me/annamariebartley

Share tributes with her family at www.grecohertnick.com