Marja-Lou Swan

Marja-Lou L. Swan Longtime Westfield Resident and Professional Volunteer Marja-Lou L. Swan, of Westfield and more recently, Basking Ridge, died peacefully at home on January 31st after a brief illness. Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation from 2-4 and 7-9 PM, Thursday February 2, at Gray Funeral Home, 318 E. Broad St., Westfield (www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer condolences). Funeral services will begin at 11:00AM Friday February 3, 2012, in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 414 E. Broad St. Westfield. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Westfield. Born Margaret Louise Langemeier in Manhattan to Charles and Margaret (Merget) Langemeier, Mrs. Swan was raised in Brooklyn where she graduated from The Packer Collegiate Institute in 1945 and Skidmore College in 1947, with a degree in psychology. After graduation she accepted a management position with AT&T in the personnel department, where she would remain for ten years. She volunteered as a member of the Junior League of Brooklyn. In 1957 she met the love of her life, Edward L. Swan, Jr at an event hosted by the Young Republicans. They married and settled in the Fort Hamilton section of Brooklyn where their daughter Nancy was born. Shortly thereafter they moved to Westfield where they welcomed two sons, Richard and Kent. As her children attained school age Mrs. Swan embarked on her second career, that of a professional volunteer. Mrs Swan volunteered with and was a member of the board of numerous non-profit organizations including the Youth and Family Counseling Service, Visiting Nurse Association, Friends of the Library and was President of the PTA at Wilson School and Westfield Senior High School. She also volunteered as a member of the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield. Her true passion was for the work performed at Children's Specialized Hospital where she volunteered for many years as a member of the Senior Auxiliary. After the untimely death of her husband in 1979, Mrs Swan served on the board of directors of William H. Swan and Sons, the family ship chandlery business, until its sale in 1989. For several years, Mrs. Swan served as both a Jury Commissioner and as a public member of the Fee Arbitration Committee for Union County. Mrs. Swan was also a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Echo Lake Country Club, where she enjoyed playing paddle tennis in her earlier years. Her family will miss her loving guidance and generous spirit. She is survived by her children, daughter Nancy Abbott and her husband James of Ramsey, NJ; sons Richard of Rancho Mirage, CA and Kent and his wife Patricia of Flemington, NJ and four grandchildren, John and James Abbott and Michael and Alison Swan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, NJ.