Mary Ann SWART

MARY ANN SWART Mary Ann Swart (née Fleming) was born May 10, 1934 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan to Dr. Harry Raymond Fleming, Member of Parliament, and Claire Kyte Fleming (d. 1999) and she died March 14, 2021 in Cumbria, England. She was educated in the public schools of Humboldt and, after the untimely death of her father in 1942, moved with her family in 1944 to Nova Scotia, first to Port Hood and then to Antigonish. Mary Ann attended St Francis Xavier University in Antigonish before entering St Michael's School of Nursing in Toronto. After graduating in 1958, she worked in Honolulu, Hawaii where she met Leslie Swart, an RAF officer. Mary Ann married Leslie on August 15, 1960 in Regina, Saskatchewan and together they had six children who survive her. Ann Marie Swart of Devon, England, Michael Swart of Devon, Christopher Swart of New Zealand, Elizabeth Swart of Manchester, David Swart of New Hampshire, USA and Gemma Swart of London, England. Following her marriage to Leslie, Mary Ann continued nursing and accompanied him as an RAF officer's wife to postings in the UK, Germany, South Africa, and the USA. Her work supporting Leslie as Station Commander at RAF Coltishall earned him a CBE which he credited to her. After 30 years of life travelling the world with the RAF, Mary Ann and Leslie settled in Cartmel, Cumbria, where she was a vibrant member of the community volunteering in the local hospice, the charity shop and Cartmel Priory, as well as playing golf, gardening, fell walking, and baking chocolate chip cookies. She continued to visit her many friends around the world and made new friendships with everyone she met. Mary Ann was predeceased by her brother Joseph Patrick Fleming of Houston, TX (d. 2004) and is survived by her brother George Kyte Fleming of Halifax and sister, Joan Claire Tracey of Birmingham, Michigan. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Rhys, Tirion, Myfanwy, Noah, Keira, Kai, Rory and Isabella. A memorial Mass will be held for Mary Ann at St Charles in Grange over Sands on April 7th, followed by a funeral service at the Priory Church of St Mary and Michael in Cartmel on April 8th. Mary Ann will be buried with her beloved husband Leslie (d. 2011) in Cartmel, overlooking the fells where she enjoyed walking.