Ethel Mae "Snook" Peris

Ethel Mae Peris, “Snook” to all who knew her, a life-long resident of Lancaster, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2026, the Feast of Pentecost, after a brave year-long battle with cancer.

Snook was devout in her Catholic faith and was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Lancaster. She was truly a loving and joyful wife and mother, raising her four boys with kindness and great care. She was also a consummate and creative seamstress and knitter, often volunteering her skills to make needed items for others. She led the Prayer Shawl ministry at St. Mary’s and was a member of the Smocking Guild of America, through whose Wee Care program she sewed countless smocked infant gowns to donate to area hospitals. Snook was an avid and meticulous quilter and was working on several quilting projects up to the time of her passing. She loved to sew dresses for her young great- grand daughters, and she won numerous first prizes for her sewing and quilting from the Lampeter-Strasburg Fair, including this year’s fair. She also enjoyed cooking, reading, visiting and talking with friends, music, playing the guitar, and above all, spending time with her family.

While she was happiest in her vocation of wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, she also enjoyed working in office administration at St. Joseph Catholic Church, as a clerk typist for the Lancaster County Court, and in the advancement office of Franklin and Marshall College, among others.

She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years Donald Peris, Sr., her sons Don (Karen), Bob (Belinda), Chris (Delaine) and Cale, her sister Sue Weiler (Dave), and brother Mike Polaski (Pauline). She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Drew, Anna, Amanda, Cassandra, Miranda, Emily Hostetler (John), Matt (Erica), Abigail, Darien, Alexa, and Ava, and great-grandchildren Carrie, Cora, Ciera. She was proceeded in death by her grandmother and namesake Ethel Rae McNelis, her mother Bessie Mae Polaski (Painter), her father William McNelis, Sr. and her brother William McNelis, Jr.

Snook will be remembered as a model of kindness. Even during this challenging year of illness, she always took time at every medical appointment to thank each person who helped care for her.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Snook will he held on Friday, May 29th, 2026, at 10 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 119 South Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603. The family will receive relatives and friends in the church starting at 9 AM.