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Mary Sweitzer Obituary
June 25, 2022
State College, Pennsylvania - Mary Reed Sweitzer, 100 years young, passed away peacefully in her State College home after a long full life as loving mother and dedicated educator. She is pre-deceased by her husband and Penn State Professor Robert E. Sweitzer. Born in Ingram Pennsylvania, she was graduated from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) and began her illustrious career as a music educator, accompanist, and choral director. Mary taught students from: Ingram, PA; Chicago, IL; Muskingum, OH, Kansas City, MO; Stillwater, OK and finally a 20+ year tenure in State College, PA teaching junior high music and chorus at Westerly Parkway Junior High School.
Upon retirement, she joined the US Coast Guard Auxiliary to provide boating safety on regional lakes. Following that, she became an instructor and later Pennsylvania state coordinator for AARP's Drive Alive Program for driving safety. Mary's passions have always included her family, learning, being active, music and gardening. Mary is survived by two children - her daughter and caretaker, Joanne Lee Sweitzer Suenkonis (grandson, Matthew C. Suenkonis) of York, PA and her son videographer, Christopher Reed Sweitzer (Kathleen Dahill) of Kaua'i, Hawai'i.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the charity of your choice.
Memorial details are pending.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Sweitzer
2 Entries
Linda Lowery
June 30, 2022
BEST music educator and I had delightful conversations with her over my career in State College. Heartfelt condolences sent.
Karen Swavely Clark
June 29, 2022
Chris, Joanne and families,
I am so sad to read this news. Your mom was such a unique, kind individual who lived her life with gusto and with a great sense of humor.
When I moved back to town in the 8th grade, she was my music teacher. I remember her inviting me to dinner to meet her kids, we had scrambled eggs which were delicious but I thought odd for dinner. That was the beginning of getting to know her as a person who lived her life "her way". Our paths crossed many times after.... for lunch, in stores, at her home or in phone calls. I regret that we lost touch in the last 10/15 years. I recall driving with her after she started teaching the 55 alive senior driving programs....I think my driving made her nervous because I got a lot of driving tips from her that day and some of it sank in....a good thing. She was always a teacher. Funny what you remember, prisms in her windows, flower in her gardens, her dry sense of human, her kind eyes and her caring personality.
She will be remembered fondly. RIP Mrs. Sweitzer.
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Funeral services provided by:
Koch Funeral Home - State College2401 S. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801
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