Shirley Elaine Swanson

Shirley Elaine Swanson (Loesche), widow of Kenneth Swanson Sr., passed away on Monday, Aug. 11th, 2014, at Connecticut Hospice, at the age of 89. Shirley grew up in New Haven and lived most of her adult life in Madison. She was a loving, funny, opinionated, social, in-charge, charitable, reading, bike counting gardener. She engaged everyone with her warm smile and openness, and had the grace of an eternal hostess. She worked many years for the state of Connecticut as a Toll Supervisor, was an active member of the Vicky's Club, enjoyed summers at Dud's Village, and loved trips to Mohegan Sun with her family and best friend, Jennie Duffy. She was an avid tag sale picker, card shark, sports fanatic, colored glass lover, and crocheter of thousands of hats for the children's cancer ward at Yale New Haven Hospital. She always said, "Be good to each other."

Shirley is survived by her three children, Kenneth Swanson Jr. and his wife Patricia of Madison, John Swanson of Madison, and Mary-Ellen Swanson Higgins and her husband James of Monroe, VA, her two granddaughters Katherine Swanson Whitehead and her husband Raymond of Lawton, OK, and Elizabeth Swanson of Brooklyn, NY, and many dear friends and relatives.

Shirley is predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Swanson Sr., her parents, Henry Loesche and Mary (Egan) Loesche, her brother John Loesche, and her sister Ellen Loesche.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, Aug. 15th at 11am at Swan Funeral Home in Madison. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405.

Thank you again to the wonderful staff at Connecticut Hospice and Suzie Flannigan, who provided such amazing care, support, and love.

Good night, sweet dreams, we love you, Mom.