Mary Helen Swanson

Mary Helen Swanson, 82, of Galesburg, IL died peacefully on August 12, 2024, while in hospice care due to complications from a stroke.

Mary was born on September 3, 1941, in Galesburg, the daughter of Helen M. (Lineen) Collins and Dean W. Collins. She graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1959. Mary held many jobs throughout her lifetime and had most recently worked as a bookkeeper at Burgland Drug Store in Galesburg. She married the love of her life, Jerome Edward Swanson, on April 4, 1964, in Galesburg.

Mary was an avid golfer and loved playing with her ladies golf group at Soangetaha Country Club, where she enjoyed over 50 years of membership and where she raised her family. She was a longtime parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and spent many years as a volunteer for OSF St. Mary Hospital Auxiliary, starting as a candy striper there in her early teens. She was also a member of the AN chapter of P.E.O. for many years. When Mary wasn’t playing golf, she found joy in flower gardening, baking, playing bridge, watching college basketball games, and reading. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and Sudoku and could often be found working jigsaw puzzles.

Mary’s beloved husband of 60 years, Jerome, died just one week after Mary on August 19, 2024. She is survived by their three daughters, Jane (Kevin) Baird of Fletcher, North Carolina, Laura (Andreas) Lee of Boulder, Colorado, and Emily (Sean Buckman) Swanson of Longmont, Colorado, as well as their adored four grandchildren, Charlotte Lee, Beatrice Lee, Matilda Lee and Nina Basurco; and two nieces, Coleen (Jeff) Flathman of Overland Park, Kansas and Lisa (John) Price of Leawood, Kansas.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Ann (Collins) Barry, and her niece, Shawn Barry.

Mary’s family wishes to acknowledge and thank the staff of OSF Hospice and Knox County Nursing Home for the compassionate care they provided.

Visitation and Funeral Mass for Mary and Jerry will begin with visitation at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. The rosary will be prayed at 11:00 a.m. with funeral mass following at 11:30 a.m. Father Jeffrey Stirniman will officiate. Mary and Jerry will be buried together at St. Joseph Cemetery, Galesburg. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Mary may be made to OSF Hospice or OSF St. Mary Medical Center Auxiliary.