Submitted by: Dan Rich

Patricia J. Swanson

March 13, 1924 - Oct. 7, 2008

South Bend Tribune 10/10/2008
SOUTH BEND - Patricia J. Swanson, 84, formerly of Arrowhead Drive in South Bend, died at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday, October 7, in Regency Place of South Bend. She was born on March 13, 1924, to the late Fred, Sr. and Alvira (Lollman) Wendel in Mishawaka, and was a lifelong area resident. Along with her parents; a son, Craig L. Swanson; three sisters, Doris Huber; Mary Jo Wolfe; Barbara Mitchell; and three brothers, Robert Wendel; Fred Wendel, Jr.; and James Wendel also preceded her in death. Mrs. Swanson retired in 1986 from the South Bend Tribune, where she worked as a News Room Composer for the legal and Classified Ad Department for 29 1/2 years. On August 29, 1942, as Patricia J. Wendel, she married Robert G. Swanson in South Bend. He died on June 29, 2006. She is survived by her daughter, Gloria Swanson of South Bend; two sons, Robert W. (Carol) Swanson II of College Park, MD; D. Michael (Laura) Swanson of South Bend; a daughter-in-law, Charlene Swanson of Gainsville, FL; nine grandchildren, Stephen, Ronald, Thomas, and Gary Kaszas; Dawn Bergeron; Brent, Michael, and Craig Swanson; and Ann Wisniewski; nine great-grandchildren; Cara, Hannah, and Hunter Kaszas; Andrew and Isaac Bergeron; Alex, Amanda, and Lauren Swanson; and Lacie Wisniewski; four sisters, Shirley Slabaugh of South Bend; Suzanne Cleaver of Westwood, N.J.; Lois Haynes of Dallas, TX; Audrey Jack of Dallas, TX; and two brothers, Daniel Wendel of Jacksonville, FL; and Jerome Wendel of Traverse City, MI. Mrs. Swanson was a member of Corpus Christi Parish, where she served as a past president of the Rosary and Altar Society. She was also a member of the Potawatomi Kiwanis Club.