Kathleen Swartz

Kay was born on February 11, 1936 in Canton, OH to Joseph John and Ruth Mary (Gavin) Brumbaugh. She was blessed to travel the world in her youth, including studying abroad in Switzerland for a year. She told her children many stories of her adventures in Europe, which sparked a sense of adventure in all who knew her. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dominican University (formerly Rosary College) of River Forest, Illinois in 1958, and worked as a high school art teacher. She married James “Jim” B. Swartz, in 1959, and they settled down in Kokomo. Together, Jim and Kay raised two sons, Joe and Greg, and two daughters, Laura and Julie. She was a homemaker when her children were young, then a bookkeeper and accountant for the family business. She excelled at everything, especially at being a mother.

Kay had a passion for oil and watercolor painting. She was an avid skier, tennis player, swimmer, and lifeguard. And she loved her German Shepherd dogs. She also loved good food with family and friends, chocolate, and a glass of red wine or chocolate martini. She was a Christian and attended Catholic Church all her life. She was known for her quick wit, as well as her kind and quiet spirit. Except for a year in Tuskegee, Alabama, she lived most of her adult life in Kokomo Indiana, then moved to Noblesville Indiana about 15-years ago where she lived on Morse Reservoir and enjoyed the “lake life.” She looked forward to boating and kayaking during the summer and loved to relax on a floatie in the sun, tethered to a dock or boat.

During dinner, Kay would always toast “to those who couldn’t be here with us today but would if they could”. She will now be included in this toast that her loved ones will carry forward.

Kay was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Brumbaugh, her mother, Ruth Brumbaugh, her sister, JoAnn Weber, her husband, Jim Swartz, her son, Greg Swartz, and her granddaughter, Terra Louis. She is survived by her sisters, Ruthanne Brumbaugh and Jane Miller; her children, Joe Swartz, Laura Louis, and Julie Thorpe; her daughters-in-law Natalie (Norris) Thorpe and Margot (Mosier) Swartz; her son-in-law Ralph Thorpe; her grandchildren Brendan Thorpe, Dylan Thorpe, Kylie Thorpe, Jordan Agnew, Paul Swartz, Madison Swartz, Ireland Swartz, Nick Swartz, and Sam Louis; several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023, at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church at 14598 Oak Ridge Rd, Carmel, IN, 46032, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a funeral mass service from 2:30-3:30 p.m. A celebration of life for Kay and Jim Swartz will follow from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Sky Ballroom at the Club at Chatham Hills, 1100 Chatham Hills Boulevard, Westfield, Indiana 46074.

Flowers can be sent to Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Humane Society for Hamilton County. She will be laid to rest at Sunset Memory Gardens in Kokomo, Indiana.