Edna M. Svec

July 23, 1916 – June 29, 2013

Edna Svec, 96, died peacefully June 29, 2013 at Green Hills Care Center in Ames, three weeks short of her 97th birthday. A visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 14 at Steven's Memorial Chapel in Ames with a Vigil Service at 4 p.m. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Monday, July 15 at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church with burial at Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Edna was a first-generation American, the only child of Italian immigrants, Ben and Mary Bruno. She was born July 23, 1916 in Morrisdale, PA where her father worked as a coal miner. When Ben took the opportunity to purchase a small grocery there, it set the course for the family’s prosperity.

The family moved to South Williamsport, PA in 1920. Edna grew up there and helped with the growing grocery business, graduating from South Williamsport High School in 1933. That summer, she and her father sailed to Italy for a month-long visit to family members, a trip that was a highlight of her early years.

Her parents believed strongly in education. She attended what was then Pennsylvania State College from 1934-38 majoring in dietetics and institution management. She was selected for Mortarboard and was president of Alpha Chi Omega sorority her senior year. She described college as “the most exciting years of my life”.

Edna attended the University of Michigan for a year as a dietetic intern. She worked as a dietician in Carlisle, PA and at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Philadelphia. In 1941, she received a scholarship from Alpha Chi to colonize a chapter at Iowa State College and in 1942, started her graduate program there in Institution Management. WWII prevented establishing the sorority, but did not affect her studies.

Her goal was to teach at the college level, but she became “smitten” with Harry Svec, a chemistry graduate student she met at a dance. When he proposed marriage, she accepted. After completing her Master’s, she and Harry married in a small wartime ceremony on October 27, 1943.

She set up housekeeping with Harry in Ames, using her training and abundant skills to make a home for him and the children that started to come in 1945. Harry continued to work toward his doctorate and the family continued to grow until by 1960 it numbered nine children - five boys, four girls. Edna’s Institution Management training was put to good use running a well-organized household.

Like her mother, Edna was an accomplished cook. She combined traditional family cooking with her training to feed her large family tasty and nutritious meals. Regularly assigned chores and assistance with meal preparation produced children adept at cooking and other domestic skills. She loved color and always set a pretty table. Edna sewed and assembled attractive outfits and selected pleasing home furnishings.

She was an upbeat person, kind and pleasant to those around her. Never one to complain, she accepted the inconveniences of advancing age with grace and good humor. She relished a good joke.

An old-school note-writer, she never failed to extend her thanks and remember family and friends on special occasions. Edna loved to dance. She and Harry were members of Red Friars Dance Club for many years.

After Harry retired, the two took a number of trips to the Caribbean as well as Alaska, the southwest and Nova Scotia. Edna was able to return to Italy twice, including a pilgrimage and a trip accompanied by a daughter and granddaughter.

She was a member of St. Cecilia’s Parish starting in the 1940’s. Edna was active in the community including volunteer work at University Museums, Mary Greeley Hospital, and Youth and Shelter Services. She belonged to PEO Chapter HO and Tuesday Club.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents (1984, 1986) and husband (2006).

She is survived by her greatest treasures - all nine of her children and their families: Mary Svec, San Diego of CA, Peter (Linda) Svec of Cumming, IA, Kathy (Dorian Stripling) Svec of Ames, Jan (Barb Klubal) Svec of Des Moines, Tom Svec of Lockhaven, PA, Jeanne (Bruce Smith) Svec of Williamsburg, PA, Ben (Amie) Svec of Ames, IA, Dan (Joy) Svec of Des Moines, IA, Lillian (Wayne Burdick) Svec of Belmont, CA., 18 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Memorials in her honor may be directed to the Ames Historical Society or St. Cecelia’s Parish Building Fund.