Shirley Ruth Swardlick

Shirley Ruth Swardlick passed away on Friday morning, June 5th, 2020, at Orchard Cove, in Canton, Massachusetts. She celebrated her 97th birthday in April, with family members from California to Maine to Switzerland, connected digitally in these times of restricted travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Shirley was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on April 26, 1923. She graduated from Lowell High School and went on to study bookkeeping and secretarial skills. She worked in the hardware business in Boston prior to starting her family. Shirley met Sam Swardlick just days before he was sent overseas to serve in Europe in the Army Air Corps. Although the two had barely gotten to know each other, Sam made Shirley promise to wait for his return from the Service and he vowed to write by candlelight, from wherever he was stationed. They were married while Sam was on leave, on August 12, 1945, shortly after victory in Europe was declared. With the end of WWII announced a few weeks after their wedding, Sam never had to leave his bride again. Shirley and Sam Swardlick were married for 61 years, until Sam’s passing in 2006.

Although she did bookkeeping work part time from home, Shirley was unabashedly dedicated to her real full-time job—raising a family, running a household, and being the primary connecting point for a far-flung and loving network of extended family.

Shirley was born to David and Sarah Sax, who immigrated to the U.S. from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. Her parents predeceased her, as did her brother Benjamin Sax, and her two sisters, Edith Sax Sacks, and Lillian (Libby) Sax Coltin. She is survived by her three children: Joan (Swardlick) Karol; David Swardlick and his wife Ann Swardlick; and Linda Swardlick Smith and her husband Gary Smith. She was cherished by her seven grandchildren: Adam, Ethan, Jesse, Abby, Betsey, Ben, and Gregory. Shirley’s large and loving family also includes: five great-grandchildren, nine nieces and nephews, and more grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins than anyone other than Shirley has counted. She not only maintained a list of nearly all their birthdays, but wrote and mailed cards to as many family members as she could, every year, until the last few months.

Shirley Swardlick’s dedicated service to her family, her friends, and her community came in the form of the most generous love and attentiveness. She always had time for, and an open heart to, an amazing network of family and friends. Her expressions of love and concern always started with food. You could not visit “Mom/Aunt Shirley/Grammy Shirley” without being fed. And, it was not possible to leave her home without carrying away generous helpings of beautifully homemade foods and baked goods. But her real gift to all was her shoulder to cry on, her non-judgmental ear, and her gentle advice. The gift of her unconditional love created a most-loving and close-knit family.

Shirley and Sam were at the center of many circles of family and friends—the Swardlick family, the Sax and Sacks families, the Coltin family, the Lowell friends and the Canton friends—through over 60 years of staying in close touch. With grandchildren, cousins and nieces and nephews scattered from South Africa to Israel, and Los Angeles to Europe, it was Shirley’s regular phone calls, weekly, handwritten, pages-long letters, and faithfully mailed greeting cards that kept the connections tight. Shirley was like a news-clipping service as she regularly extracted articles of interest about the things her extended family was involved with, and she mailed each of those “clips” with a personal letter, showing her family that she knew and cared about their work and interests.

One of the community involvements that brought Shirley great joy was the scholarship fund created to honor Sam Swardlick’s many athletic accomplishments, and his contributions of service to the Town of Canton. The Swardlick Family Scholarship Fund, supported by 11 Swardlick family graduates of Canton High School, funds an annual scholarship in connection with the Spirit Cup Award given to a deserving Canton High School senior.

Shirley’s family knows that a great many of her relatives and friends would wish to take part in a memorial service at this time; however, due to current restrictions on gatherings, a small, private, graveside ceremony will be held at Sharon Memorial Park. Shirley will be laid to rest alongside her husband, Sam, and in proximity to other relatives. A celebration of the life of Shirley Swardlick will be planned for a later date.

“Her spirit lives on in each of us who knew and loved her. Her heart is in our hearts.” – Joan, Linda, and David

Shirley’s family asks that you hold her deeply in your thoughts and hearts. Contributions in memory of Shirley Swardlick may be made to the charity of your choice, or to: Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice, 80 NewBridge Way, Dedham, MA 02026.