I received this email last night:
“It is with great sadness that I let all of you know that our brother, Dad, husband, uncle—Ed Swanson—passed away this evening. Ed has fought a long battle against cancer—a battle that was interspersed with so much love, integrity, courage and his wonderful sense of humor.
Over the last 24-36 hours, Ed’s chest cavity and lungs began to fill with water and his breathing and speech became raspy and weak. Early this evening, Ed fell asleep; his breathing slowed down and then he quietly passed away.
He fell asleep at 36 Eugene St. in Leominster and awakened in a beautiful new Heaven! And I’m pretty sure he’s having a great time catching up with Mom and Dad now and is surrounded with God’s love and is at peace in a land of no more pain and no more tears.
Funeral arrangements will be made on Wednesday afternoon. We’ll send out more info then. In the meantime, please remember Karen and Sean and Chuck, Marjorie, Gloria and Shelly in your prayers—Carolyn, too. Also the grandchildren who have lost a wonderful Grampa. Let’s pray that God will give them comfort and peace and an assurance that Ed is safe in his Father’s loving arms.
Betty”
Arrangements have been announced for Ed, my father’s brother, my uncle, a man who will be missed by many.
From an email from Betty:
“Ed’s funeral will take place on Saturday at 11:00 AM at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 1200 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg. Calling hours will be at Wright-Roy Funeral Home, 109 West St., Leominster on Friday evening from 5:00-8:00. I’ve attached the URL for Wright-Roy Funeral Home; an obituary has already been posted. His obituary should also appear in Thursday’s edition of both the Fitchburg Sentinel and the Gardner News (note: subscription required to read full story at Gardner News).
Wright-Roy Funeral:
http://www.wrightroyfuneralhome.com/obits/obituaries.php/obitID/286849
The ladies from Emanuel Lutheran will provide coffee, punch and desserts following the service. Since it will be lunchtime, we’ll be providing meat platters (with bread/rolls and condiments), tossed salad, potato salad and beans. If anyone plans to attend and would like to help out with this, please let me know. The ladies will also do the set-up, serving and the clean-up.
Ingrid, Arlene, Chris and I spent the afternoon with Karen, Sean, Marjorie (and Wayne), Shelly and Gloria. They are all doing as well as can be expected and are finding strength from each other and from God. We’ll be together again on Thursday afternoon as we put some pictures together for display at the wake.
Thanks to all of you for being such a wonderful family and for supporting all of us with your love and your prayers.
Betty “
Ed’s slideshow:
Edmund W. Swanson August 7th, 1932 – December 1st, 2009
My family extends it’s deepest condolences at this time to Karen, Sean, Chuck, Shelly, Marjorie, Gloria, their children and grandchildren, to all our family, to all who knew Ed.
We will together tonight make these words heard aloud, in loving memory:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Amen.