Etta Rose Swan Manfred

Etta Rose Swan Manfred, age 91 of Arden, NC, died peacefully and unexpectedly at her home on March 12, 2026. Etta maintained her indomitable spirit to the end. She was an exceptionally strong person with a deep faith and connection to her Catholic religion. She exhibited great love and loyalty to her family, always keenly interested and involved in their lives. There was always a small stack of newspaper or magazine cut-outs to be mailed that she thought would be helpful or of interest. Etta will be greatly missed, especially her multiple daily phone calls to family. She was friendly and kind to the people she interacted with, and generous with her time. Her involvement with her faith community at St. Eugene in North Asheville included being an active member of the Women’s Guild, and the Catholic Rosary group at Ardenwoods Retirement Community in her later years. She was also supportive of Asheville Catholic School which two of her grandchildren attended. Etta was born June 12, 1934 in Potsdam, NY to George K. and Rose Blanchard Swan, and grew up in the nearby small paper town of Unionville where her parents ran the local general store. She attended Potsdam High School where she met her husband, Paul Manfred. She received a Bachelors degree in Education from SUNY Potsdam and married in 1955. Owing to her caring nature, she began a 30 year career as a public elementary school teacher, moving to and primarily teaching in Massena, NY. Etta was meticulous and took great pride in a clean and organized home. Always with a nearby iron, she insisted on pressed sheets and even underwear—at least until her family finally convinced her to ease up. Following retirement, she and Paul relocated to Asheville, NC in the mid-1990’s. Following his death in 1999, she moved to the Kyfields community in nearby Weaverville, NC, and then to Arden in 2019. She is survived by her daughter, Patricia, of Golden, CO; her son, Steven, of Asheville; her grandchildren, Christopher, Bryan, Alexander, and Evan; and her sisters, Sister Elaine of Catonsville, MD, and Janice Musselman of Silver Spring, MD. She was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph Swan of Norwood, NY and Rev. Michael Sowan of Lewis, NY; and her son-in-law Stewart Willis. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, March 23, 2026 at St. Eugene Catholic Church in Asheville, NC followed by a reception at the church. At a date to be determined in the near future, a memorial service will also be held in Massena, NY where Etta will be interred next to her husband. Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities (Asheville, Diocese of Charlotte) or to Asheville Catholic School.

Tributes

Etta Rose Swan Manfred

June 12, 1934 - March 12, 2026