Muriel Jean Swanson, devout Catholic
Muriel Jean Swanson, Jean to all who knew her, was born Feb. 8, 1924, in Queens, N.Y. She was the second of four children to Herman and Linnea von Frank.
Jean graduated as a registered nurse in 1946 from Adelphi University, Long Island, N.Y. She met the love of her life, Jerry Swanson, shortly thereafter, and they were married in 1954. Jerry was hired by Firestone Tire Company as a forester to run a rubber plantation in Liberia, Africa. Jean and Jerry moved to Liberia in 1954, where they lived and worked until 1975. During that time, they also traveled the globe to many interesting locations.
Back in the U.S., they made Old Tappan, N.J., their home. Jean worked as a nurse at the Bergan County High School and retired as the assistant director of nursing at the Paramus Nursing Home. They stayed in New Jersey until Jerry’s retirement in 2000. They made plans to retire to Lewes, but sadly Jerry passed away before the move was finished. Jean moved to Lewes and made Pilottown her home until she passed away at 99.
Jean was a longtime parishioner at St. Jude the Apostle Roman Catholic Church and was active in sewing and quilting groups, and participated in parish activities. Jean loved her local friends and neighbors in Lewes and she was loved by all in return. She will be dearly missed by her extended family in New York, Maine and Texas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 6, at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m.
All who cannot attend in person are invited to view the Mass via livestream by visiting: youtube.com/@StJudeTheApostleChurchLewesDE/streams.
Interment will take place at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 7, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to St. Jude the Apostle Church, or the Breast Cancer Foundation.
Visit Jean’s Life Memorial webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
