Obituary of Anne Swinton
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Anne Swinton
December 14, 1926 - December 16, 2020
Anne Swinton fell asleep in the arms of her Lord and Saviour on December 16, 2020, two days after her 94th birthday.
Anne was born to Dan Beatul and Mary Senenko on her father's homestead in the Cypress Hills of Alberta on December 14, 1926, in the middle of a raging snowstorm. As with other pioneer families, life on the Beatul farm was not easy. Anne's father was often away working to supplement their farm income, leaving Anne's mother at home to look after the farm and care for Anne, her younger sister Irene, and younger brother Alec. After her mother passed away suddenly just before Christmas in 1938, as the oldest child 12-year-old Anne was expected to look after the house and care for her younger siblings as best as she was able. In 1940, Dan married Dora Dinu and the family moved to southern Saskatchewan, near Scout Lake. Anne loved her new mother and was thrilled when the family grew over the years with the birth of four more sisters: Loraie, Shirley, Elaine, and Doreen.
Anne moved into Regina in 1949 and began working at the Hotel Saskatchewan, first as a housekeeper and then as an elevator operator. A chance meeting in the elevator with an executive from Tidewater Oil led to a job as a receptionist for the company. It was in 1962 at an oil industry convention at the Hotel Saskatchewan that Anne met Earle Swinton, who became the love of her life. The two married in 1964 and had two sons, Douglas and Keith. Anne stayed at home with her children until they began school. In 1973, Anne began working as the church secretary for Knox-Metropolitan United Church in Regina, a job she remained at for the next 28 years, retiring three times but never quite leaving.
Family was always the most important thing in Anne's life. Christmas at Anne's and Earle's house was always a large affair, with aunts, uncles, cousins and anyone else who might be available gathered at the table. Regardless of the time of year, they welcomed many people into the house which became a home to all, whether they came for a short time or an extended stay. Anne and Earle also loved nothing more than to spend long summer days out at their cottage at Pasqua Lake, again preferably in the company of family and friends. Through all the ups and downs of life, Anne was always a loving and supportive mother and wife. She cared for Earle, her husband of 40 years, through his health challenges. She also cared for her own mother Dora and her sister Shirley in their final years.
Anne thrilled in the marriages of her sons and was pleased to get to know her daughters-in-law, Patricia and Laura. She rejoiced in the arrival of her grandchildren - James and Hannah, Serhiy and Ihor - and talked of them and their accomplishments continually, as all proud grandmothers should. She took great pleasure and comfort in seeing the wonderful people they have grown to be. As the family matriarch, she also welcomed all the additions to her extended family: her great-nieces and nephews and, in time, even their children.
Anne in turn was loved and cared for by her family and friends, especially following Earle's passing in 2004. Whether it was being invited on an Alaskan cruise by Judy who was her niece, friend, and daughter-in-heart; spending winters in Texas in the company of her brother Alec and sister Irene; playing TV bingo and having supper with Aunt Ruth, Uncle Bill and Aunt Darlene; making the bus trip to Scout Lake to visit her sister Elaine and family; cheering on her beloved Riders with friends Joyce and Laurie Wood; or being welcomed at holiday dinners by Earle's cousin Lorne and his wonderful family; Anne was always surrounded by people who cared for her. Her 90th birthday celebration at the Hotel Saskatchewan with so many family and friends from near and far was a testament to the love that surrounded her. And as with advancing age her old friends passed out of her life, Anne made new friends: her canasta partners, aquacise buddies, and table mates at College Park Residence in Regina.
A woman of strong and certain faith, Anne was an active member of Knox-Metropolitan United Church for over 50 years. Her church community played a central role in Anne's life and she in turn was a mainstay of the congregation. Through her many years of work as church secretary and countless hours of volunteering, even well into her 90s, there were few aspects of the life of Knox-Met that Anne did not in some way become involved in. Anne saw many changes at Knox-Met over the years, but always drew strength from the faith and fellowship of the all wonderful people there.
A virtual Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. To view the livestream, please click on the highlighted link that will appear at the top of the obituary on the day of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to Knox-Metropolitan United Church in Regina (knoxmetregina.org) or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca) are greatly appreciated.
