Salem-Loraine Swagman, 95, of Salem passed away Saturday, September 19, 2009. She was a resident of Regency Woodland Residential Home.

 

Loraine was born April 17, 1914 to Edward and Ida (nee Jansen) Schmitz in Saint Paul, MN. She spent her childhood in Minnesota. As a teenager, her family moved to Oklahoma City, OK. She attended college at St. Theresa’s in Minnesota. She moved to Los Angeles, where she worked at the Los Angeles Times as a proofreader.

 

She met her husband Charles in 1942, and they were married at St. Monica’s Catholic Church on May 23, 1945. They raised their children in Westchester California.

 

Her beloved husband died in 1964 and after his death she worked for McDonnell Douglas as a technical writer until she retired.

 

She was a founding parishioner of St. Anastasia’s Catholic Church in Westchester, California and was active in their senior citizens group until she moved to Salem to be near her daughters. She was a member of Queen of Peace Parish.

 

Loraine was an avid bridge and poker player and was always busy with a crossword puzzle or Sudoku. She loved to travel and had been to Europe several times.

 

Loraine is survived by her children Mary Snaadt (Jack), Kathy Speckman (Steve), Jane Boillot (Greg), Charles Swagman, and Rita Fay (Brian) and grandchildren Christy, Michael, Katie, Meghan, and Colin, 4 great grand children, and her sister Betty Chrysler and brother Phil Schmitz. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Swagman, sister Mary Deal, and brother Bernie Schmitz.

 

Her family would like to thank the caring staff at Regency Woodland and Willamette Valley Hospice for their help in her last days. And a special thank you to Nahid from Queen of Peace.

 

Services will be held at a later date in California.