Obituary of Ann L. Swanson

Ann L. Swanson LAKE DELTA - Mrs. Ann L. Swanson, age 90, retired collections manager for the Rome Historical Society, died on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Since January she made her home with her eldest son in the Town of Lee. The former Ann Lorraine Flint was born on April 28, 1924, in Utica, a daughter of Laura E. (Thomas) and Theodore R. Flint. She was baptized in the former Welsh Presbyterian Church in Rome. Mrs. Swanson was educated at Rome, Lake Delta, and then Holland Patent, where her schooling ended in 1940 when her father suddenly died and "Nan" entered the work force at age 16 to help support her mother and four siblings, all residing in Camroden. During World War II she was a defense worker at General Cable in Rome. On July 7, 1945, she and Roy F. Swanson were married in the Methodist Church at Westmoreland. Mr. Swanson died on Nov. 11, 1997. The couple settled near Colemans Mills in the Town of Whitestown where they built a home and raised two sons. In 1989, Mr. and Mrs. Swanson moved to Camelot Village in Westmoreland. Always active, Mrs. Swanson was a former president of the auxiliary to the Clark Mills Post of the American Legion. For a time she was employed at the Fort Schuyler Club in Utica and Sadaquada Golf Club in Whitestown. She was a member of the Wednesday Morning Club, Rome. Among her travels, she treasured a visit to London in 2007 to visit her granddaughter, Stephanie, who was studying in the United Kingdom. Ann began her association with the Rome Historical Society in 1988. For her involvement with that organization she was selected in 2006 by Mayor James F. Brown as one of three recipients of the annual Shirley B. Waters Civic Award. In 2013 she was awarded the society's Medal of 1777 for service, and retired in December of that year. She was also a recipient of the Rome Character Initiative Award in 2009. Mrs. Swanson leaves two sons: David Charles Swanson of the Town of Lee, and Paul Francis Swanson and his wife, Karen (Ciotti) Swanson of the Town of Floyd. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Patricia Marie Swanson and her husband, Neil A. Ranney, Boston, MA, and Timothy Paul Swanson and his wife Maggie (White) Swanson, Westmoreland; also Stephanie Lynne Swanson, Rome, Derek Charles Swanson, Rochester, and Karina Elaine Swanson, Utica. She also leaves three great-grandsons, Ezekiel and Malachi White-Swanson and Simon Vincent Ranney. Birth of her fourth great-grandchild is awaited in the Ranney family. Ann also leaves a sister in Arizona, Mrs. Catherine Noreen Rovella and her husband Anthony. Besides her husband, Roy, Mrs. Swanson was pre-deceased by three brothers: Theodore Roosevelt Flint who was killed in World War II, Richard Gordon Flint, and John Seymour Flint. A daughter-in-law, Barbara J. (Wikiera) Swanson, was killed in a pedestrian accident in Rome in 1999. Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 2-5 p.m., at the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 218 W. Court St. Rome. Private burial will be in Oriskany Cemetery next to her husband of 52 years. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Rome Historical Society, 200 Church St. Rome, NY 13440. To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com