Thresa Marquart Swanzy

Thresa Ann Marquart Swanzy, peacefully passed to heaven on Monday, January 22, 2024 at the age of 85 surrounded by family. Her life legacy is her family. She loved her family and devoted her life to her family. Thresa was kind to all she met and had a beautiful smile.

Thresa was born on October 30, 1938 in Austin, Texas to Johnny and Albina Marquart. Thresa and her younger sister, Dorothy (Dottie) grew up in Austin. Thresa graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1956 where she was involved in various clubs. Thresa met the love of her life, William (Bill) Gilbert Swanzy in Austin and they married on June 21, 1958. Thresa and Bill lived in Austin and started their family by welcoming William Kevin in May 1959 and then Cheryl Ann in July 1960. They had a busy life with family, friends and church. They worshipped at Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church and enjoyed fellowship with many friends in the Great Club at Saint Albert’s. Thresa and Bill enjoyed traveling and went on 13 cruises and visited China, Prague, Vienna and Germany. Thresa retired in 1999 from the Department of Public Safety.

Thresa and Bill decided to move to St. Joseph’s Village, a Catholic retirement community in Coppell, Texas in January 2019 to be closer to their daughter, Cheryl and grandchildren. It was difficult to leave the many friends and wonderful neighbors in Austin but they embraced making new friends in their retirement community. Thresa enjoyed bingo, attending Mass, listening to special concerts, participating in events and going to happy hour each Friday for the entertainment. It was common to see Bill and Thresa dancing to the music at happy hour before Bill’s health failed. Thresa had many good friends and enjoyed her time living at St. Joseph’s immensely.

If you could use one word to describe what was most important about Thresa the word would be family. Family was the purpose of her life. Family fulfilled her. Family gave her great joy.

Thresa loved her parents with all her heart. She had a strong bond with her mother. The two enjoyed going to the beauty shop together and going shopping. They also attended Round Rock Express minor league baseball games where Bill worked as an usher during his retirement. Everyone knew Thresa and her mother, Albina. Both had beautiful and contagious smiles and were friendly to all. Thresa was devoted to her parents and would do whatever she could to help them. She would go to her father’s nursing home each day after work to help him with his dinner. During this time she was blessed to have her mother live right next door to her. Thresa was devoted to her mother in the same manner when she had to live in an assisted living facility. Thresa honored her parents with her love every day of her life.

Thresa loved spending time with family. She had seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren (three more arriving in 2024). She would go to numerous football, baseball, basketball and soccer games, band programs, dance recitals and birthday parties. During grandchildren visits there almost always was a fun outing and special treats! The grandchildren and great grandchildren were always happy she enjoyed sweets and chocolate so they could too!

Thresa was preceded in death by her husband Bill of 63 years, her son Kevin whom she loved dearly, her parents, Johnny and Albina Marquart and her sister Dottie Kirk.

Those left to carry on her legacy of love and devotion to family are her daughter Cheryl Quast Engler and husband Mark, grandchildren Jonathan Swanzy and wife Alison, Brad Swanzy and wife Chelsea, Sarah Swanzy, David Swanzy and wife Emily, Stephanie Fleisher and husband Scott, Allison Wurtz and husband Michael and Michael Quast and wife Rachel.

1 Corinthians 16:14 Do everything in love.