NANCY SWENSON

SWENSON--Nancy Tiernan, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2012 at her home in Dallas, TX. Born December 2, 1924, to Martin F and Purcell Tiernan, she spent her childhood in Essex Fells, NJ. Her five siblings predeceased her. She married Bruce Swenson of Montclair, on December 30, 1944. They moved to Dallas and raised six children all of whom are living. After 66 years of marriage Bruce predeceased Nancy on July 6, 2011. Nancy won many tennis tournaments and held top rankings in the senior divisions. She was ranked number one in Texas five times. Her top national singles ranking was second in the 55's. She was ranked in the top five in the country in doubles five times. In 1998 Nancy was diagnosed with Parkinson's. She combated its symptoms without complaint. She became involved with The Voice Project, a foundation dedicated to helping Parkinson's patients preserve their speaking ability and she received great enjoyment, appearing in several of the Project's plays. In 2010 the foundation awarded Nancy its annual Proud-to-be Loud Award for "extraordinary courage, perseverance and determination." She is survived by her six children and their families; including 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Her children and their families are: Bruce (Smokey) Swenson and his wife, Lindsley, of Dallas, and their children Tiernan Cavanna and Tiernan's husband Kieran Cavanna, and Harris Swenson and his wife Lauren. Tiernan and Kieran are the parents of three of Nancy's great-grandchildren while Harris and Lauren are the parents of the fourth; Stephen Swenson and his wife, Carla, of Dallas; Christopher Swenson and his wife, Emily, of Montclair, and their children, Billy, Mike and Lisa; Merritt Swenson, of San Antonio and her sons, Swen, Jamie and Peter McCulloch; Carroll Swenson-Roberts and her husband, Truett Roberts of Dallas, and their daughter, Sara Roberts; Nancy E. Swenson, of Dallas, and her daughters Allison and Hayley Caldwell. Nancy's companionship, cheerfulness, graceful determination, full love of life and love for us will be greatly missed. A Funeral Mass will be performed at St. Joseph's Church in Richardson, TX on Wednesday, March 14th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Parkinson Voice Project, 500 N. Coit Rd Suite 2085, Richardson, TX 75080.