Helen Swartwood

Helen Ida Finlay Swartwood, age 98, of North East, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at her residence.

She was born in Erie on December 16, 1916 a daughter of the late William and Anna Marshall Finlay.

She was a 1938 graduate of St. Vincent School Nursing where she received her degree as a registered nurse.

She was a former member of St. Peter Cathedral and loved reading and collecting dolls.

She retired from (L.E.I.R.) Lake Erie Institute of Rehabilitation where she was a registered nurse. She also worked as a private duty nurse and a nurse at General Electric Company during World War II.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Swartwood in 1978, a son, Ralph W. Swartwood, three sisters, Marion Finlay, Lucille Hopson, Jean Marie McNally, a brother Jacqui Finlay and a granddaughter, Jolee A. Sherrell.

She is survived by two daughters, Priscilla Hardman (husband, Barry) and Reverend Cheryl Molavi of Northeast, a son, Mark Swartwood of North East, four grandchildren, Renee Sherrell, Aimee Sherrell, Paul (wife, Linda) Bole and Tarra Donofrio and a sister, Lorena Ollarek of Erie. She is further survived by seven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th Street, Erie, PA 16502, on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to attend a service there on Friday at 11:30. Burial will follow after the service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank Home Health Aides and nurses and aides at Community Nursing Services of North East Hospice for the wonderful care they gave to Helen.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family in care of the Burton Funeral Home.