Kay I. Swanson, 85, passed Monday morning, Aug 14, 2023 at a Hingham nursing facility. Kay was a 60+ year resident of Bridgewater, MA having moved here in 1962 from Brockton, MA.

Kay was born to Carl Vincent and Anna Katherine (Watt) Swanson on September 01, 1937 in Brockton, MA.

Kay attended Brockton schools graduating from high school in 1955 and from Bridgewater State Teachers College with a teaching degree in 1959. She taught for many years at the Ashfield School in Brockton as a first grade teacher and upon retirement continued to foster young minds, providing her skills in a tutoring capacity throughout the Brockton schools for a number of years.

While enjoying her career in the teaching profession, Kay always wanted to be of service to those in need in her community. Even "off the clock", Kay's personal life was punctuated with involvement with church and outreach programs. Kay was involved with a program called Handi-Kids and found the experience to be very rewarding. At her local Methodist church in East Bridgewater, where she was an active member for a number of years, Kay was the Sunday School Superintendent and also aided in helping plan church socials, bean dinners, craft events and was in charge of running the church's Thrift shop. The crafting events brought out Kay's enjoyment in making jewelry, when she was not enjoying a good book.

During her life, Kay enjoyed time with family and friends, travelled with her mother and close friends to western parts of the state or country, as well as a few jaunts to Canada. Kay enjoyed day/road trips with her mother as their health permitted. As a youth, Kay's family enjoyed frequent trips to the Cape. Kay especially enjoyed travel to the ocean and spent a number of vacations along the Maine coastline. In later years, she and her sister would take turns travelling to each other's home across the country for a month-long stay until this became too difficult to accomplish due to health issues.

Kay was a loyal friend and cherished babysitter to neighbors and in later years, these same now-grown children included her in their holiday celebrations with their families. She even looked after some of the grandchildren, which she enjoyed immensely. While Kay was not technically savvy, she did like to follow this family's happenings on their Facebook pages, when she could get the infernal computer device to work for her. Kay was also an avid fan of felines, with her last companion, Seline, predeceasing her approximately a decade before her and taking all Kay's personal musings with her.

Always a fan of a good home-cooked meal, Kay enjoyed going out to dine with family and friends. Kay enjoyed the 'know your name' quality at local establishments like Pier 18 Seafood & Grille in East Bridgewater where she went for years, but when that closed she would dine at Good Days Restaurant in West Bridgewater. When her ability to travel was impacted, her caregiver, Barbara, a close friend, would pick up an evening meal for Kay to enjoy.

Surviving Kay is her sister, Lois Jackson in Mesa, AZ and 3 step nephews. Kay was predeceased by her parents: Carl and Anna, who were laid to rest in Melrose Cemetery, Brockton MA in 1956 and 2000, respectively. Now Kay will join them and her paternal grandmother, Augusta (Dahlin) Swanson and a maternal aunt, Leoti M Watt, who are also interred here.

No memorial service will be held for Kay, as many of her close friends and peers have proceeded her, but should you read this and wish to make a donation in her name, she enjoyed her companion, Seline and she always was looking for materials to assist in tutoring young minds in the Brockton area schools. Donations to Brockton animal shelters or elementary schools in Kay's name would be most welcome and likely, gratefully appreciated.