Ethel Leora Sundberg passed away Friday, Aug. 20, 2010, at her home with her family. She was 88.

Leora Ethel Melchert Sundberg was born on Sept. 24, 1922, in Minneapolis, to parents Leora and Otto Melchert. She attended and graduated school from South High School in 1940.

On Sept. 28, 1940, she was united in marriage with Dwain Russell Sundberg in Minneapolis at her mother’s house. The couple made Mound their home. They raised four girls and two boys. In 1958 they moved to Salinas, Calif.., transferring with Streaters. They lived in Salinas until 1971 then transferred back to Albert Lea to the Streater plant there.

Ethel worked for the Holiday Inn in 1972 as banquet coordinator. She then went into business for herself as Ethel’s Catering out of her home. She also worked from the “Y” catering to the Y’s men every month, and the Christian Women’s Group and the Mason’s of the Masonic Temple. She also cooked for the kids that attended Camp Moraine through the Y in the summer. Ethel met many special people through her catering service. Ethel retired in 1990 or so.

She enjoyed sewing doll clothes for the American Girl Dolls. She enjoyed making christening dresses. Ethel made receiving blankets that were donated to the Baby Place at Naeve Hospital. The nurses there were very happy to see Ethel’s smiling face when she delivered them. She donated a porcelain doll each year to the Salvation Army handing out commodities and cooking for Thanksgiving meals. She volunteered at the First Lutheran Church to make spatzils for their German suppers. Ethel’s passion was cooking and sewing. She enjoyed crossword and word search puzzles. She never missed a day of Jeopardy until her health started to fail. She also had a passion for Scrabble.

Ethel cherished time with her family, especially all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also had many great-great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her three daugthers: Sharon Swanson of Shakopee, Re Nelle Block (Rick) of Coon Rapids and Candice Neely (Bob) of Albert Lea; 18 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dwaine, in 2008; two sons; one daughter; two sisters; and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held Friday at noon with visitation from 11 a.m. to noon at Huber Funeral Home, Mound.

Ethel will be sadly missed by her daughters and her grandkids. She will be remembered for her radiant smile and big heart. She was a very caring and generous person. Jake, her Pom, will greatly miss her also. Last but not least we will all miss her great meals.