Marquette––Marie Catherine Swenor, 94, of 701 Homestead Street, Marquette, entered eternal life Monday, March 31, 2008, at Marquette General Hospital.
Born June 10, 1913, in Marquette, daughter of Timothy and Anna (Zietz) Messier, Marie was raised in Marquette and was a graduate of the Bishop Baraga High School. Following graduation, she was employed in the office of Dr. Casler before accepting a position in the stenography pool at the Federal Communication Commission in Washington, D.C. On December 29, 1938, she married William R. Swenor at St. Peter Cathedral. The couple returned to Washington, D.C. where both continued to work for the federal government. In 1942, the couple moved to Detroit. Following Will’s death in 1966, Marie remained in the Detroit area until moving back to Marquette in 1987.
In her leisure, Marie enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting, playing cards, and working crossword puzzles. She was a skilled board game participant and was the undisputed “Scrabble Queen”. She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church.
Survivors include her two daughters, Nancy (Jim) Martin of Milford, and Rita Swenor of Seattle, WA; two sons, William (Chris) Swenor and Stephen (Gail) Swenor both of Marquette; her grandchildren, Scott (Sheila) Swenor, Michelle (Mike) Barry, Jeffrey (Wendy) Martin, Timothy (Amy) Martin, Christopher (Melissa) Martin, Douglas (Shannon) Martin, Emily (Eric) Scheinbaum, and Rebecca Swenor; great-grandchildren, Samantha and Nicholas Swenor, Rachel and Jessica Barry, Sydney and Eleanor Martin; her sister, Anna (Bill) Breitenbach of Escanaba; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Will; an infant brother and sister, Joseph and Catherine Messier; and sisters, Ethel Briggs and Alice Tracey.
Friends may call at St. Michael Catholic Church on Friday, April 4, beginning at 3:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 5:00 pm Friday afternoon with Rev. Msgr. Jed Patrick as celebrant. Marie’s grandchildren will serve as her escorts. A reception will follow in the St. Michael Parish Center. Spring burial will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, 710 Chippewa Square, Marquette, MI 49855 (www.alz.org) or the Norlite Nursing Center, Patient Activity Fund, 701 Homestead Street, Marquette, MI 49855. Envelopes will be available at the church.