Lily Swanson

Lily L. Swanson of North Syracuse NY, age 94, passed away surrounded by her family at the home of her son, Bruce on November 23rd, 2021.  Lily was born December 30th, 1926 to Emil and Margaret Baxter Ungleich.  She married Donald H. Swanson, a Navy veteran and later a union steamfitter who worked for Honeywell, on July 27th, 1946, then devoted herself to being a mother to their three children and a homemaker at their residence at 306 Baxton Street. Lily was a member of the Luther Memorial Lutheran Church.  She was active for many years in the VFW Post 7290 Auxiliary in North Syracuse, holding various offices.  She also enjoyed going bowling in a weekly league with her husband Donald.  She loved the many dogs she shared her lifetime with, adopting and rescuing many of her canine companions, and supported animal welfare organizations. Lily was predeceased by her husband Donald in 1984, and then more recently by her disabled adult son, Donald in 2020. She is survived by her daughter, Donna Steele of Bridgeport, NY and grandsons, Donald Steele and Brian (Anne) Steele. 

She is also survived by her son, Bruce (Juel) Swanson of Camden, NY and grandson David (Jill) Swanson, and by her grandchildren by marriage, Rhiannon (Preston) Ilnicki, Justin (Kathy) Lipphardt and Maxwell (Mackenzie) Lipphardt.  She especially adored her great-granddaughter Lilyanna Joan, named in honor of both her great-grandmothers.  She also enjoyed time spent with five additional great-grandchildren, Johnathan, Hudson, Mason, Harper and Kyler, and was pleased by the recent news of twins expected next year. Lily is mourned and missed greatly by her entire family, and also very acutely by Bruce’s dogs, who learned they could rely on her for kind words, ear scratches, and food handed off to them beneath the table or from her bedside. 

Services held Monday November 29, 2021 1PM at Sears Middleton Mathewson Funeral Home, 209 N. Main St., North Syracuse by Pastor Susan Feurzeig.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks you consider a donation in Lily’s name to the Humane Association of CNY or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Oneida, Herkimer and Eastern Madison Counties. 

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