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Felicia Svoboda Obituary
July 20, 1936 – August 30, 2025
Felicia (Baran) Svoboda, age 89, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Born in Chicago on July 20, 1936, Felicia was the daughter of John and Tillie Baran and sister to Joseph Baran. A lifelong learner, she earned her Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois.
On November 1, 1958, Felicia married the love of her life, Henry Svoboda, and together they built a wonderful life and family. She is survived by her children, David and Sandra; grandchildren, Amy and Kelly; and great-granddaughter, Ayla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry, and son, Brad.
Felicia's passion was education. She dedicated her career to teaching science at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, where she inspired countless students with her enthusiasm and curiosity. After her teaching career, she continued to share her love of science as a docent at Fermilab in Batavia, leading tours of the particle physics laboratory, neutrino research facilities, and the 6,800-acre prairie ecosystem. Her work at Fermilab brought her great joy and lifelong friendships-she often said it felt like an extended family.
A longtime resident of Naperville, Felicia later moved to Scottsdale, AZ, to be near her daughter following an injury. She will be remembered for her intelligence, kindness, humor, and unwavering dedication to family and learning.
A burial service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, followed by a celebration of life at Ditka's Restaurant in Oak Brook at 12:30 p.m.
Felicia was deeply loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Fermilab Friends for Science Education at https://fermilabfriends.org/Support-Us
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Memories and Condolences
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2 Entries
Anne Mary Teichert
November 1, 2025
I worked with Felicia at Fermilab — we were “twins,” hired the same day. We learned the job together, spurring each other on in a friendly, sometimes funny competition. Felicia was always cheerful and went out of her way to cheer up others who were down. When we taught classes together she delighted in finding little outrageous ways to keep students engaged, and never missed an opportunity to encourage students that “they could become scientists, too.” She took her job hosting monthly Ask-a-Scientist sessions very seriously and went the extra mile to make sure everyone’s needs were met. She loved being outside with student visitors to the prairie as much as she enjoyed physics tours. When I think of Felicia I think of her laugh and her smile with twinkling eyes. I’m very happy to have known her.
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Maurice Ball
October 30, 2025
I worked with Felicia at Fermilab. She was a docent at Fermilab and I am engineer that she would often ask to speak to her tour groups. I especially enjoyed talking to the students that she led. She always had a smile and a warm welcome for the visitors. And I always looked forward to her smile, meeting with her and her tour groups. I am certain that many people who participated in her tours were educated and enlightened by her tour guidance, quite possibly producing future young scientists or engineers, or encouraging political support for Science in our politics. And that will be Felicia's legacy. In loving memory of a wonderful person. Felicia, we will love you and miss you always.
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