Eleanor Farrell Swanson

SWANSON-Eleanor Farrell Swanson, former teacher at Duarte High School and long-time resident of the San Gabriel Valley, passed away at the age of 89 at Royal Oaks Manor in Bradbury. Mrs. Swanson was well known to the Duarte/Bradbury community as Eleanor Farrell, French teacher and faculty sponsor of the American Field Service student foreign exchange program. Mrs. Swanson was born Eleanor Ruth Wells on September 11, 1921 in Riverside, CA to Jesse and Corena Wells. Mrs. Swanson graduated valedictorian at Riverside Polytechnic High School and salutatorian at Riverside Junior College. Mrs. Swanson received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with a minor in French from Pomona College as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and was the first woman to graduate with a performance Master's Degree in Music from Claremont Graduate School. Following graduation, Mrs. Swanson enlisted in the WAVES during World War II and served as an Ensign at the U.S. Navy Japanese Language School at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Mrs. Swanson was a teacher at Chemewa Junior High in Riverside and later at Monrovia-Duarte High School. Mrs. Swanson became a charter faculty member of Duarte High School when it separated from Monrovia High School in the late 1950's. Mrs. Swanson was married to Henry Farrell of Grafton, MA in 1955 and lived in Arcadia from 1955-1991. Mrs. Swanson served as organist and later as organist and choir director of Village Presbyterian Church in Arcadia for forty years. Mrs. Swanson was also an early member of the William Hall Chorale and Orchestra, and performed in several European tours with the group. Following her first husband's death, Mrs. Swanson was married again in 1991 to Lloyd Swanson of San Gabriel, who preceded her in death. Mrs. Swanson is survived by her sister Marjorie Witting of Alexandria, VA, daughter, Maureen Hensiek of Camano Island, WA, son David Farrell of Tualatin, OR, grandchildren Jennifer Morgan of Poulsbo, WA, Kyle Hensiek of Sacramento, CA, Kathryn Farrell and John Farrell of Tualatin, OR, and great- grandchildren Jacob, Brigham, and Hannah Morgan, and Forrest, Hunter, and Summer Hensiek. The graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM at Live Oak Memorial Park and the memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM at Village Presbyterian Church, 2733 S. Tenth Avenue, Arcadia.