Mabel J. Swift

BARRE TOWN – Mabel J. Swift, 86, of Barre Gardens (formerly Rowan Court) passed away on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 with her loving family at her bedside.

Born February 9, 1931 in Orange, she was the daughter of Roswell J. and Linnie E. (Curtiss) Farnham, the 14 ^th of 15 children.

Mabel attended schools in Washington and Orange, as well as Spaulding High School.

On April 26, 1952 she married Richard Swift the love of her life in Barre.   Mabel and Richard met at a barn dance at Tucker’s Barn in Orange. Following their marriage they first made their home in Springfield and Ware, MA then they returned to Vermont, and settled in St. Johnsbury for a while until they moved to Littleton, NH from 1954-1968, then they moved to Barre where they lived the rest of their years together. Richard passed away April 4, 2013.

Mabel was a homemaker and then had various jobs including lacing leather shoes for Connor and Hoffman Shoe Factory in Littleton, NH. She also was a housekeeper for several families in Barre Town and Barre City, working for the Bailey family nearly 30 years.

In her spare time, she loved doing crafts with her grandchildren, sewing, quilt making, collecting teddy bears and dolls. Also, she loved playing bingo, dancing with dad to bands in the area that played Glen Miller and other musicians of the big band era. Let’s not forget watching soap operas, playing pitch with her family, going to Thunder Road and watching her grandsons play baseball.

Dementia took over her life more than five years ago. As a family, we sorely missed her cooking, our wonderful family trips, great Christmas’s and her caring ways pertaining to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will always remain in our hearts and fond memories every day.

Survivors include her children, Sarah Carlyle and her husband, Robert of Williamstown; Peter Swift of Barre Town; Candace Stewart and her husband, Randy of Barre Town; her grandchildren, Kerri Hull and her husband, Cary of East Barre; Brian Allain and his fiancée Julie Barclay of Williamstown; Joshua Stewart of East Barre; and Holly Stewart of Burlington; her great-grandchildren Monica Weinbaum of Burlington; and Madelyn and Ava Hull of East Barre; her sisters Irene Nadeau of South Barre; and Emma Gingras of Washington; her sister-in-law Joyce Isham of Barre Town as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Richard, she was predeceased by her parents; her grandson Devin Swift; her brothers George, Merton, Allie and Wayne; her sisters Lillian, Easter, Ethel, Gladys, Edith, Ada, Marion, and Ruth.

The service to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Monday, June 19, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Christ Community Alliance Church in Orange. Family and friends may call on Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.

The family would like to thank Barre Gardens (formerly Rowan Court) for their loving and dedicated care on Wing 2, along with many other staff members at the facility. We also need to mention her special friend, Susan in the front office. Susan and mom bonded from her first day there over five years ago. She provided mom with many cups of coffee, tea and sugar snacks, along with her hugs and kisses.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Vermont Humane Society, PO Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601.