Mary Jane Swanson 1931-2011

SWANSON SMITH BURNS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/23/2012 at 13:52:37

Sioux City Journal
July 22, 2011

Mary Jane Swanson, 80, of Sioux City died unexpectedly Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at her residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Church of the Nativity Catholic Church, with the Rev. Gerald Feiefeil officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., a rosary service at 4:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Condolences may be posted online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

She was born May 8, 1931, in Sioux City, the oldest of six daughters of John and Mattie (Smith) Burns. She grew up in Sioux City and graduated from East High School in 1949.

Mary Jane married Alfred "Ed" Swanson on Aug. 18, 1952, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sioux City. She was employed in the library at Heelan High School for 23 years.

She was devoted to her Catholic faith and was a member of Church of the Nativity and the ladies guild. Mary Jane was a former member of Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches. She was a member of Catholic Women's League and Confraternity of Christian Women and was a Eucharistic minister. Mary Jane was a great sports fan of Heelan High School and Notre Dame. She was a member of Heelan High School Parents Club. She enjoyed making scrapbooks and photo albums for her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Alfred "Ed" Swanson of Sioux City; four children, Tim (Cheryl) Swanson of Howell, Mich., Teri (Brian) Janus of Barrington, Ill., Tom (Jill) Swanson of Mapleton, Iowa, and Ted Swanson; four sisters, Lou Ann Benson of Sioux City, Jean Houlihan of Phoenix, Ariz., Judy Houlton of Omaha, Neb., and Rita Tomlinson of Sioux City; eight grandchildren, Chrissa, Melissa, T.J., Jennifer, Jeff, Jon, Michael and Maria.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Janice McInerney; and a daughter-in-law, Lori Ann Swanson.

Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools.