Ethel C. Sveda

May 27, 1930—December 11, 2025

Loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Ethel Sveda, 95, of Ridge, NY, passed away on December 11, 2025, of natural causes.

Born in Astoria, NY, in 1930 to Michael Owens and Ethel Tennant Owens, Ethel was the younger sister to a brother William and a sister Gloria. Her family, who moved around in Queens during her childhood, finally settled back in Astoria when Ethel was a teenager. It was there she met her future husband, James, at the Astoria Pool. James, a Navy man, was a former New Jersey State Champion diver. After they wed, they lived in Astoria, where their two older children were born, then moved to North Bellmore before having two more children.

Ethel enjoyed being a housewife and mother. She was proud to maintain a loving, well-kept home for her family, where they frequently entertained relatives and neighbors. She recalled fondly the nights when she would pack a homemade picnic, and she and her husband would take the kids to the beach for dinner. She was a creative cook and even got the kids to eat liver, bacon and onions and stuffed cabbage from time to time. The highlight of every holiday celebration for the extended family was her delicious, made-from-scratch cheesecake.

Creative and resourceful, Ethel was a bit of a MacGyver when it came to homemaking, frequently employing bits and bobs she had around the house to solve her everyday household dilemmas. Over the years, she became very skilled at all kinds of household repairs and decorating skills indoors and out. Her love of gardening continued into her later years.

After their children were grown, Ethel and James moved to a Senior Community in Ridge. Her husband passed away in 1994, but Ethel maintained her condo there until her 94th birthday.

Throughout her life, Ethel was an expert with the sewing machine, and she designed gowns, dresses and outfits for her children and herself. Crafting, especially crocheting, kept her busy into her 90s. If you knew Ethel, you were sure to own something she crocheted over the years. Many relatives and friends have a handmade blanket she gifted them for one occasion or another—always with love and care.

Her lifelong love of music ranged from Frank Sinatra (whom she had the privilege of seeing perform live) to opera to 50s dance tunes. She loved to listen to music, and in later years she sang in the chorus in her condo community in Ridge. That passion was clearly passed down to her children and grandchildren, many of whom play an instrument and like to sing.

Ethel’s greatest love was her family. She was immensely proud of her four children, 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, and they all loved their “Grandma” and “GG.”

In her final year, Ethel lived at The Village at South Setauket/Assisted Living, where she made wonderful friends, especially among the staff who were so kind, compassionate and loving. Ethel was thrilled to celebrate her 95th birthday there and again at another private party with her family. She was in awe of the fact that she was the only person in her family to live to that age. During the private celebration, as she looked around the room at her family—laughing, smiling, playing and chatting—and said to her granddaughter-in-law, “I’m looking at everything Grandpa and I made. We did good work.”

In her last months of life, Good Shepard Hospice (affiliated with St. Charles Hospital) also helped provide care and assistance.

Ethel is survived by her children Maryann (James), James (Catherine), Ethel (Richard) and Shawn (Victoria), her grandchildren Marnie (David), Matt (Kristen), James (Kristan), Michael (Victoria), Shane (Robyn), Amanda (Aaron) and Erik, (Joelle), and her great grandchildren Rye, Rowan, Henry, John, Gregory, Owen, Leo, Ava, Logan, Violet, Myles, Emmaline and Davin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepard Hospice (631-465-6350) in memory of Ethel Sveda, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

A visitation will be held at O. B. Davis Funeral Homes, located at 1001 Route 25a, Miller Place, NY 11764, on December 28, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

A Roman Catholic Funeral Mass is scheduled at St Mark's Rc Church, 105 Randall Rd, Shoreham, NY 11786, on December 29, 2025, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

The committal service will take place at Calverton National Cemetery, Wading River, Wading River, NY 11792, on December 29, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm.