Delphine "Del" Mary Swartzlander

Delphine Mary Swartzlander, affectionately known at “Del”, 83, passed away on November 16, 2015, at Sunrise of Cary. Born on March 16, 1932, in Baltimore, Maryland; she was the daughter of the late Walter and Frances Studzinski Wierzbowski.

Del was raised in Baltimore and graduated from Clara Barton Vocational High School. She worked as a licensed cosmetologist for about thirteen years before she married Carson “Carl” Swartzlander on Oct. 7, 1961. While Carson served in the U.S. Army, they traveled the world, living in Maryland, Virginia, Arizona, Nebraska, California, North Carolina, Japan, Hawaii, Germany, Alabama, and New York. Together they raised their three daughters, each of whom was born on a different continent.

Following retirement, she and Carson moved to Lakeland, Florida, where they continued to enjoy traveling and cruising. After fifty years of marriage, she was widowed in 2012, and then moved to North Carolina to be closer to two of her daughters. Aside from traveling, she enjoyed reading, playing cards and hosting parties.

Del is lovingly remembered by her three daughters: Joan Cordutsky and husband Gerry of Westminster, CO; Paula Hils and husband Dan of Apex; and Ellen Cassidy and husband Danny of Morrisville; her grandchildren: Kelsey, David, and Bryan Cordutsky; Marie, Michael, and Stephanie Hils; and Ethan and Chloe Cassidy; and sister, Theresa Perc of Baltimore, MD.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Casimir Church in Baltimore, MD, with a committal service at Arlington National Cemetery in early 2016.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Catholic Parish Outreach of Raleigh (www.cporaleigh.org) or a local food bank.