Obituary: Ellen M. (Loftus) Swanson, 80

Ellen M. (Loftus) Swanson, 80, of Newport, died Sunday, March 20, 2016 with her family at her side. Mrs. Swanson was born June 24, 1935 in Newport, RI, the daughter of the late George and Margaret (Kirwin) Loftus. She was the wife of the late Captain Walter Theodore Swanson, Newport Fire Department (Ret.).

Ellen was a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church, a member of the Mother's Club of St. Mary's School, a past member of the St. Mary's Guild, and a member of the Elks Emblem Club. She worked as a dental assistant for the late Dr. George Carrellas for many years. In her spare time, she enjoyed antiquing, WW II history, and she loved her Scotties.

She is survived by her four daughters, Margaret E. Upham and her husband Bruce of Middletown, RI, Tricia A. Booth and her husband Jim of Portsmouth, RI, Kate Wheeler and her husband Rick of Newport, RI and Ruth B. Cudworth and her husband Ron of Newport, RI; her sister, Pauline Walsh of Marietta, GA, twelve grandchildren, Robert, Eileen, Leslie, James, Thompson, John, Siobhan, Erik, Bridget, Walter, Ronald and Christopher; seven great-grandchildren, and two adopted grandsons, Dmitry and Mikhail.

Ellen was predeceased by her daughter, Eileen Swanson, her brother, George Loftus, her brother-in-law, Donald Walsh and her sister-in-law, Alice Loftus.

Calling hours will be held Sunday, March 27, 2016 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 28, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Spring Street and Memorial Blvd., Newport, RI.

Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown’s Lane, Middletown, RI.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Robert Potter League for Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840.