Mary Jeanne Swanson

Although Mary Jeanne Swanson valued many things throughout her life, none were more important than creating close relationships with the family she treasured so deeply. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, and proud grandmother and great grandmother, who through her unconditional love and hard work provided a strong and benevolent foundation for her loved ones. With her kind and generous heart coupled with her natural social talent, Mary Jeanne always left people charmed and smiling, and she was a good friend to the many people she met on her life’s journey.

1925 found the country right in the middle of the “Roaring Twenties.” For those living in big cities, it was a time of flappers and speakeasies, while those living in small towns, it was a time of hard work and raising families. Benjamin Franklin, Sr. and his wife, Ruby Carol, lived in the small town of Muncie, Indiana, just northeast of Indianapolis. Benjamin was a Methodist minister while Ruby cared for their three children: Benjamin Jr., Julie and Kay, and made preparations for the arrival of their fourth child. Daughter Mary Jeanne was born on December 28, 1925, bringing great happiness to her family. Sadly, Mary Jeanne's mother died when Mary Jeanne she was five years old. Her father eventually married again and his second wife, Victoria Mills treated the children as her own and the children loved her as their own. Daughter Margaret was born to Benjamin and Victoria and the family was complete.

Mary Jeanne led a typical childhood of the time, growing up in rural Indiana. After graduating from Goshen High School in 1943, she attended Wesleyan College then George Washington University, where she received a degree in Government and Foreign Affairs. Mary Jeanne then started on a new adventure by accepting a position with the Foreign Service in Nicaragua, Guatemala and later, Rome, Italy. It was while in romantic Rome that Mary Jeanne met the love of her life, Spencer Swanson, who was also in the Foreign Service. As fate would have it, the two fell hopelessly in love and were happily married on September 8, 1951. The newlyweds made their home in Rome for several years, during which time they welcomed the birth of their first son, John. Eventually, the family of three returned to the United States so that Spencer could further his education at Syracuse University in New York. While here, the couple completed their family with the births of three more sons, James, Jeremy and Jeffrey.

In 1957, Spencer, Mary Jeanne and their four boys made their way back to the Midwest, settling in Battle Creek, Michigan. Son Joel was born with special needs during this time. Spencer provided for their family working various positions within the federal government, while Mary Jeanne devoted herself to the role of a mother of five busy boys. It was a difficult decision to place Joel in a group home where he was and is lovingly cared for by the Lewis's. When Spencer was working at the Pentagon for a year, Mary Jeanne and her boys lived on a farm. She loved her sons dearly and was always very involved in their schooling, scouting, music and sports activities. In addition, Mary Jeanne found time to be a great cook too. She was appointed the “casserole queen” by her family because she would whip together a fabulous casserole dish from nothing at all. In her quieter moments, Mary Jeanne enjoyed sewing, knitting and doing latchwork and also spent 17 years of her life raising and showing championship Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs.

After Spencer retired in 1981, he and Mary Jeanne became regular travelers, visiting their sons and their families, who lived all over the U.S. - from California, Florida and Texas to Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. They also spent every summer at Lake Webster in Indiana for family reunions. Mary Jeanne thoroughly enjoyed the family get togethers, including her “tubing” rides all the way up to the age of 80. Church was also an important part of Mary Jeanne’s life and she was active in the Church of God and celebrated all the annual feast days.

Mary Jeanne was passionate about Native American culture, and she studied natural and homeopathic remedies (she had one for just about anything that ailed you). As an avid reader, her favorite book was the Bible, though she and Spencer came upon the works of Tony Hillerman, who was best known for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels. One of Mary Jeanne’s most endearing traits was her genuine charm and ability to connect with people from all walks of life. No one was a stranger to Mary Jeanne. She was generous to a fault, yet frugal to the penny. Above all, Mary Jeanne considered her family to be her greatest gift and blessing in life. In fact, in 2010, she and Spencer moved to Grand Rapids to be closer to their loved ones.

Mary Jeanne suffered with congestive heart failure for some time, and as her condition progressed and she needed more specialized care, she moved to Brookcrest Nursing Home on January 7, 2011. It was here that Mary Jeanne passed away on Monday, August 15, 2011, at the age of 85.

Mary Jeanne was preceded in death by her brother, Benjamin Franklin, Jr., sisters, Julie and Margaret, and daughter-in-law, Cynthia Swanson. Surviving is her husband, Spencer; children: John and Deb Swanson, James and Ione Swanson, Jeremy and Bethany Swanson, Jeffrey and Janice Swanson, and Joel Swanson; 12 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren; sister, Kay Thornycroft; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held Monday, September 12, 2011, 11:00 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, with visitation for one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of God. To share a memory with Mary Jeanne’s family or sign her online register book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.