Mary Carolyn Pennington

Mary Carolyn “MC” Swartz MacCollum Pennington died on November 11, 2021 after a brave battle with cancer. She was 87 years old. Born in Indianapolis on September 18, 1934 to Wilma Mikesell Swartz and Leonard L. Swartz, she was a graduate of Tudor Hall and Butler University, and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. MC was a longtime member of the Trailing Arbutus Garden Club, a former member of the Christamore Aid Society, the Junior League of Indianapolis and the board of Park Tudor School. In the 1990s, MC was the sole proprietor of My Secret Garden, a charming flower shop in Broad Ripple, where her creativity, love of flowers and beauty, and talent for design were widely appreciated. She loved the feeling of sunshine on her face, playing cards, board games and tennis, and was a competitive ballroom dancer. MC approached the world with grace and passion and will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, strong will, positive spirit, and the delight she found in the world. She is deeply missed by her family and many life-long friends from Tudor, Woodstock, and Butler. Most of all, she was the best possible grandmother in the world and had a never-ending interest and delight in the smallest detail of her grandchildren’s lives. We will miss the twinkle in her beautiful eyes and carry her spark with us always.

MC is survived by her husband Pat Pennington; children Mike MacCollum (IN), Cindy MacCollum and Bill Curren (CT), Jennifer MacCollum Mitchell and Ryan (OR); grandchildren Quinn Curren and Skye Curren (CT), Iona Mitchel and Caifu Mitchell (OR); nephews Greg Throop and Teresa (WA), Randy Throop and Grechen (IN), Sandy Throop and Lynne Goldstein (CA); Pat’s children Patrick and Christopher Pennington (IN). She was predeceased by her first husband Nick MacCollum and son Cameron MacCollum.

A Celebration of her Life is planned for the Spring. In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to Random Acts of Flowers, https://rafindy.org/donate/,or the Lustgarten Foundation, https://lustgarten.org/donate/.