Margaret A. Swett, 91
Following a remarkable life of 91 years, Margaret Swett passed peacefully on December 7. Surrounded by family and friends to the end, Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Warren P. Swett and leaves behind three children, Dianne Schultz, Geoffrey Swett, and Graham Swett, as well as four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Born Margaret Agnes Skinner in Brisbane, Australia, Margaret had two sisters, Joan Weyer, who preceded her in death, and Valma Gregory, who still resides in Australia. She met her husband-to-be, Warren, who was stationed there during WWII, while playing violins together in a local orchestra.
The couple married in Australia and Margaret later boarded a ship to follow Warren across the Pacific Ocean, still being prowled by Japanese submarines, for her new home in the U.S. They settled in New Jersey where Margaret soon became busy raising their children and making a home for her family, which always came first.
In spite of her busy family life, Margaret enjoyed the musical arts and made time, along with her husband, to play her violin with the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra. She also joined and became chairman of a local choral group, the Chansonettes. She sang with her church choir and was an active member and later president of the Westfield Musical Club. In her later years, living in Onset, MA, she became an active member of the Wareham Garden Club where she won awards for her floral arrangements.
Her culinary skills were legendary among her friends and family and a dinner party at her house for her “Marching and Munching” friends was not to be missed. Margaret was also an avid traveler and following Warren’s retirement the couple saw many parts of the world together, including a trip back to her homeland and, closer to home, an adventurous trip down the Inland Waterway on the family sailboat.
She made for herself and those close to her a remarkable life indeed. Her energy, her commitment to excellence, and her hearty laugh will be missed by all the lives she touched and those fortunate enough to know her.
In lieu of any flowers friends and family may wish to send, her children ask that a donation be made in Margaret’s memory to The Yale School of Medicine, Office of Development, PO Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519-7611, Att: Richard Galietter. All donations will go toward macular degeneration research.