Oakdale-Celebration of Life services honoring Ethel Ware Sweat, 86, will be held at 11 o’clock am on Wednesday morning, April 15, 2026 at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale. Rev. Greg Willis will officiate. Ethel will be laid to rest at Oakhill Cemetery in Oakdale immediately following her services.

    Ethel’s family will receive friends and visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale on Tuesday evening, April 14, 2026, from 4-9 o’clock pm. Ethel’s visitation will resume at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale on Wednesday morning, April,15, 2026 from 9 o’clock am until time of service. All of Ethel’s arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale.

    Ethel was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a woman of strong faith and loved the Lord. Ethel was a hairdresser and a seamstress by trade, graduating from beauty school in Alexandria, LA. She loved spending time with her family and cherished every memory she made with them. Ethel had a profound love for animals but especially loved cats. She was a very kind, caring and selfless person. Ethel will be forever missed and unconditionally loved by all who knew her.

    Those left to cherish Ethel’s memory include one son, Rodney Sweat and wife Becky, two daughters, Jackie, and Diana S. Sweat; one sister, Clara Rodriguez; ten grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

    Ethel is preceded in death by her parents, Sol, and Cleo Ware; her husband Elza Sweat Jr.; two sons, Elza Ludrend and Donald E. Sweat; three brothers, Leamon, Elvin, and Delmar Ware; and one sister Thelma West.

    Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with Ethel’s family at www.ardoinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home.