Jane Walker Swenson (1921-2014)

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FARMINGTON – Jane Walker Swenson of Farmington died on June 4, 2014, with family at her side.

Jane Swenson
Jane Swenson

Born in the other Brooklyn (New York) in 1921 she grew up in the suburban (then rural) northern New Jersey town of Verona. Her mother died young and she was raised in Depression-era America by her Aunt Alma.

After graduating from Verona High School, Jane joined the war effort, working on time-and-motion studies in support of local aircraft manufacturers design efforts. During this time she attended Newark College of Engineering to help her with the technical requirements of her assignment. She was later employed by the Prudential Insurance Company in Newark, N.J.

After the war Jane reconnected with a classmate from Verona, C. George Swenson, married him in 1946, and raised three children: John of Bath, Maine; Greg of New Vineyard, Maine; and Jane of Surf City, New Jersey. An active PTA member, the version 1.0 “Tiger Mom” she was engaged in school activities. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Verona and later in Farmington. Summers were spent on the Jersey Shore in the town of Harvey Cedars.

Upon retiring to Maine in 1981 she and her husband relished the role of grandparents. Their granddaughters Erica and Kristin often took the school bus to their home after school where they spent many happy hours with them playing cards, making cookies, learning how to garden, and laughing.

Jane was an avid reader, loved the theatre, museums, gardening, yard sales, and celebrating holidays in a festive way. She always made an effort to make parties and family gatherings lots of fun.

Jane never missed a play, recital or ceremony involving her granddaughters; they remain in awe of her tolerance of bad acting, and less-than-stellar musicianship. They returned the favor many times over by pushing her wheelchair during their May 2000 trip to London.

In addition to her sons and daughter she is survived by her granddaughters Erica Swenson, Kristin Gagnon, and Kelsey Goddard, and great granddaughters Isla Southwick and Madelyn and Sylvie Gagnon.

The Swenson family would like to thank the staff at Edgewood for the kindness and love they showed Jane.

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2 Comments

  1. I am so, so sorry to hear that Grandma Swenson has passed. She always made me feel like one of the family and never let me get away without a kiss on the cheek and a kind word. I’ll miss her greatly and I can only imagine how much her true family will feel her loss. I’m blessed to have known her. <3

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