Ethel Raffo

She was still a beauty queen at age 80, but forever our angel..

Ethel Raffo, 87, of Branchburg, died peacefully at home surrounded by the love of her family on October 18, 2025.

Born in Shippensburg and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Ethel lived a life of resilience and persistence. She was one of three daughters raised by the love and dedication of their adored Nana and Poppa. When Ethel was 16, she met her first husband Anthony Raffo. The two were married and relocated to Paramus, and then Union, where they bought a house and had their six children. Finally, along with their six young children, Ethel and Anthony moved to their home in Branchburg where family members still reside to this day. Her husband Anthony preceded her in death in 1996. 

Ethel spent 25 years as a bus driver for the Branchburg Board of Education, driving for special needs children and children in casts, a career she was very proud of, and retired at the age of 62. In 1999 she married her second husband, Joseph Rispoli. Joseph was madly in love with Ethel and helped with her caretaking in the last few months of her life when she got very ill.Ethel was a very well-kept woman, who took her appearance seriously. She enjoyed spending summer days suntanning, often stopping at home in between bus routes to catch some afternoon sun in the yard at home. In addition to her appearance and physique, Ethel also had a very well-kept home. Regardless of finances, Ethel always found a way to keep her home in immaculate shape. She had an eye for interior decorating, and could often be found DIYing projects, before the days of YouTube and Google, around her family’s home to add her own personal touch to everything. Her eye for design extended into helping her son Tony with designs for his landscaping business and enjoyed helping him draw up plans for his various jobs. She was the matriarch of her family and loved getting everyone together for dinners and holidays. Ethel was an excellent cook, who dedicated this skill to the teachings of her grandparents.

 Later in life, Ethel traveled often with her daughter Rina and her family, with some notable trips being to Florida, Wildwood, and Las Vegas. She was an incredibly friendly, social and generous woman who will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Joan Orner, first husband, Anthony Raffo, Son, Richard Raffo and her dear grandparents.

Surviving are her beloved Husband, Joseph Rispoli, two Sons, Anthony Raffo and wife Debra, Robert Raffo and wife Rosemary, three Daughters, Mary Smarr and partner Larry Lapovsky, Nerina Stoeckel and partner Douglas Orlando, and Lisa Albrecht, stepchildren Joyce and husband Ronald, Wayne and partner Kathy, and Joseph Jr. and partner Denise Grandchildren Jessica, Michelle, Cassandra, Adam, Michael, Bryan, Brandon, Brittney, Brieanna, Tyler, and Alexandria, Ronald and Megan and many Great-Grandchildren, and Sister, Patricia Kopanoff of Etters, PA.