OSWEGO, NY – Ethel Leal, daughter of the deceased Daniel and Ethel Sova Collins, passed away on Sunday April 14, 2019.
She was the wife of the late Harold Leal.
She taught school at South Onondaga and Minetto for a total of 33 years.
She belonged to several teachers’ organizations and enjoyed, swimming, bowling, knitting and watching sports on TV, especially football.
She was an Eucharistic Minister, delivered Meals on Wheels, and visited many sick and housebound.
Ethel enjoyed working with the Girl Scout troops and with the Catholic Marion Sisters.
She is survived by her loving family: niece, Claire Collins and her husband, Butch Kruse; nephews, Daniel J. Collins, Anthony Collins, his wife, Heidi and their son, Christopher all of California.
She is also survived by her husband’s nephew, Jim McMahon and his wife Lisa and their two children; along with all of her dear friends in Oswego.
She was predeceased by her brother, James F. Collins USN, who was lost aboard the submarine Bullhead in World War II. His daughter, Elaine Neelands of Virginia, her brother, Daniel J Collins Jr., Lt. Col. USMC and his son, Mark Collins of California and her sister and best friend Lourdes Kelly and her husband Edward (Ned) of Oswego.
A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. from Christ the Good Shepherd at St Mary’s.
There will be a visitation at the church from 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Contributions may be made to Unity Acres, Box 158 Orwell, NY or to Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity.
Arrangements are in care of the Dowdle Funeral Home.
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Wonderful teacher and an even better person. Enjoyed talking football with every Monday morning during the NFL season in the fifth grade. She introduced me to my favorite children’s sports book author Matt Christopher and to watching John Wayne movies. I will always remember her tearing up every time she talked about her brother James and his tragic death aboard the USS Bullhead
I was just thinking of her a couple days ago. She was a terrific teacher and when my family couldn’t afford shoes for me in the winter she bought me a pair and had me leave them under my desk every day. I did visit her a couple times and thanked her. She will be missed by many.