Ruth Ann Swannell's Obituary
Ruth Ann Swannell, of Medford Lakes, NJ, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she was the beloved daughter of Joseph Vajdic and Helen (née Pytel).
Ruth Ann was the beloved wife of Charles Swannell, sharing 54 years of marriage filled with love and devotion. Together, they raised four daughters: Nancy Lyons, Victoria Simon (Donald Jr.), Sarah Vidal (Paul), and Rachel Rizzi (Mark). She was a proud Nana to seven grandchildren: Julia, Audrey, Thomas, Natalie, Noelle, Meredith, and Jocelyn.
One of nine siblings, Ruth Ann is survived by her siblings Vicki Jaques, Joan Elgin, and Paul Vajdic, stepson Steven Swannell (Brunilda) and grandchildren Gwendolyn, and Sophie. She was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who dedicated her life to her family and community.
Ruth Ann earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Kansas and Master of Library Science from the University of Maryland. She was a charter faculty member at the Kankakee Community College where she met the love of her life, Charles (Chuck). They married and relocated to New Jersey to raise their family.
Ruth Ann gave many years of service as a librarian with the Burlington County Library and served a term on the Medford Lakes school board. A woman of deep faith and spirituality, she was a devoted member of St. Mary of the Lakes Church in Medford, where she participated in prayer groups and shared her belief in love as the foundation of all things.
Known for her boundless energy and curious spirit, Ruth Ann was a strong-willed force of nature who always kept busy with projects and cherished time spent outdoors, especially in the shade. One of her greatest joys was finding things and giving them to her family and friends, always with a smile and a hug. She loved her walks, doing puzzles, reading, practicing tai chi and qi gong, and watching neighborhood kids ride by on their bikes. Her ability to love, forgive, and live in the moment left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
Ruth Ann believed in the importance of family, dedicating her life to raising her children and grandchildren with unwavering love and support. She will be remembered as a woman who always knew what she wanted, kept the past in the past, and exemplified the power of love, light, and kindness.
A celebration of Ruth Ann’s life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) or Doctors Without Borders.
A gathering of friends and family will be held on June 21st 10:00am at St. Mary's of Lake in Medford, followed by her memorial mass at 11:00am.
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