Obituary of Virginia M. Svoboda

Virginia “Ginny” M. Svoboda of Scarsdale, New York, passed away peacefully at home on May 10, 2023, at the age of 80.  Ginny was born on May 21, 1942, in Mount Vernon to John and Theresa Greges.  After graduating high school from Resurrection Academy in Rye, she received an associate degree in nursing from St. Vincent’s Nursing School in New York City.  Ginny worked as a nurse at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville and later was a hospice nurse in her community.  Ginny married her high school sweetheart Donald E. Svoboda in Mount Vernon in 1965. They eventually settled in Scarsdale, where she lived for more than 40 years and where they raised their two children, Donald E. Svoboda, Jr. and Arlene M. Brogan. 

Ginny was an active member of the Scarsdale Junior League for many years.  She and Don joined the Coveleigh Club in Rye in 1973, where they have been active members ever since.  Ginny and Don felt that Coveleigh was like a second home to them and they made many lasting friendships there. Ginny was in several leadership roles on the Board of Governors at Coveleigh and served on the admissions committee for more than 20 years.  Ginny was an avid sports fan.  She loved playing tennis and chaired the Women’s MITL intramural tennis league for Westchester County for several years.  Since 1969, Ginny has been an active parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Scarsdale and taught CCD classes there for many years. 

Ginny leaves behind many devoted and cherished friends and family which she gathered throughout a lifetime of kindness and giving. She could always be spotted on the boardwalk at Coveleigh with her red hair and sun visor and was always ready to give a smile and lend a listening ear.  Perhaps her greatest pride and joy was seeing her four grandchildren grow and flourish.  Known to them as “Mom Mom,” she came to as many sporting events and school and theater performances as she possibly could.  Nothing gave her more pleasure than being with her family and her cats.

Ginny is survived by her husband Donald E. Svoboda; her children, Donald E. Svoboda, Jr. (Catherine) of Rye, NY; Arlene M. Brogan (Tim) of Wayne, PA; and four grandchildren (Julia, Laura, Timothy and Claire); her sister Irene Van Deren (Edwin) of Wayne, NJ; and many nieces and nephews.

The Svoboda/Brogan family will receive friends and family from 4-7pm at the Graham Funeral Home in Rye on Monday, May 22.  A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Scarsdale on Tuesday, May 23, followed by a Christian burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ginny’s memory to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York, Office of Development, 11th floor, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022 or you can visit www.catholiccharitiesny.org