October 11, 1925 – December 31, 2025
Ethelena “Ethie” (Rowe) Mangelinckx, a resident of Reading for over 65 years, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025, at Winchester Hospital in Winchester, Massachusetts, with her son and daughter-in-law at her side. At 100 years old, she lived a long and wonderful life.
Ethie was born in Everett, Massachusetts on October 11, 1925, the only daughter of the late Stephen J. and Ethel (Short) Rowe. Ethie grew up in Everett and throughout her childhood, spent summers traveling by bus with her mother to Hamilton, Ontario to visit her Canadian cousins. She graduated from Everett High School in 1943, and Burdette Business College in 1945. Ethie married the love of her life, Joe, in 1948, and together they moved to Reading and started their family. After staying home with her children, she returned to work at American Mutual, where she met many wonderful, lifelong friends.
Ethie stayed socially active throughout her life. She played card games every Saturday with her girlfriends and together they “solved all the world’s problems”. Ethie often played bridge at the Senior Center in Reading and online and enjoyed more games following dinner with family on Sundays in New Hampshire. Ethie was a voracious reader of mysteries and historical fiction, always having her Kindle within arm’s reach. She loved vacationing to new places worldwide and remained a traveler into her 90s.
Ethie is survived by her son, Joe Mangelinckx, and his wife, Cory, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and son-in-law, Paul Dowling, of Pocasset, Massachusetts. She was the best Nana to Lauren and Ellie Mangelinckx and Michael Dowling, and loving great-grandmother to Cali Dowling. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph E. Mangelinckx, and daughter, Lee E. Dowling.
A Memorial Service will be held for Ethie on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.) Reading at 11am. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 10am-11am. Pink is Ethie’s favorite color, so if you’re able to attend wear something pink in her honor! Burial will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, you are encouraged to make contributions to the Reading Food Pantry c/o Old South Methodist Church, 6 Salem St., Reading, MA 01867 www.readingfoodpantry.org the Old South United Methodist Church 6 Salem St., Reading, MA 01867, www.oldsouthumc.org, or the Cliftondale Church of the Nazarene, 60 Essex St. Saugus, MA 01906.
For directions and online guest book visit www.douglassfuneralhome.com
