Pauline Mae Swanson, 91, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2022 at the Danish Home of Chicago where she lived the past several years to be closer to family. Pauline was born in Rockford, IL on August 13th, 1930, the youngest child of Ernst C. and Eda Mae (Shelhart) Hennessy. She graduated from West High School in the class of ’48. She met the love of her life, Francis W. “Bill” Swanson in high school and they married on April 9, 1949. In 1954, they bought a house on the corner of Grace and Bruner on the northwest side of Rockford and made it a home for 43 years for their five boys and a gathering place for family, friends and countless neighborhood kids. Their home in Loves Park was also a gathering place. Pauline worked for over 25 years for Sears at both the Main Street and Mall stores. In retirement, she enjoyed camping, dancing at the Moose in Belvidere, going to Corpus Christi, with Bill and their friends. Traveling mostly because Bill liked to travel, Pauline made it to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and Australia.
Pauline is survived by her five sons, Bill (Marilyn), Greg (Priscilla), Lon, Loren (Kandi) and Scott (Amy); ten grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, sisters Ruth and Evelyn, brother Delbert, nephew Robert Welte and niece Doris Herron.
The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Danish Home of Chicago for their care and support over the years and being a part of our family, and to Suncrest Hospice for the care and support this last week.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Advantage Funeral Home, 7000 W. State St, Rockford, IL, 61102 with Pastor Brett Todd of Beth Eden United Methodist Church officiating. A visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m., until the time of service. Burial in Willwood Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Danish Home of Chicago. www.danishhomeofchicago.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.advantagerockford.com for the Swanson family.
