Obituary of Janice M. Swan

Janice May (Mills) Swan, age 87, of Lafayette Hill died Sunday, December 6, 2015 . Mrs. Swan was born December 11, 1927 in Norristown, PA.. She is the daughter of the late Arthur and the late Lillian (Law) Mills.. She was the wife of the late James Swan who died in 1992. Mrs. Swan made music her lifelong passion. She embraced singing and playing the piano as a child growing up in Conshohocken. She graduated from Norristown High School in 1944 and later began a 30 year career as an operator for Bell Telephone in Norristown and Phila. Along with her husband James, Mrs. Swan was involved in theater groups such as the Whitemarsh Curtain Callers and the Dramateurs. She also was active in variety shows at her parish , St .Philip Neri Church in Lafayette Hill. Mrs. Swan spent many years as a piano teacher , tutoring children in her living room of her home in Lafayette Hill well into her 80's. She performed for years for senior citizens at St. Joseph's Villa in Flourtown and the Marshall Lee Towers in Conshohocken. At one time she purchased an organ and donated it to the Marshall Lee Towers. In addition she volunteered for the American Cancer Society as a driver along with the Meals on Wheels Program through the Colonial Neighborhood Council. Mrs. Swan enjoyed most recently playing the piano for her fellow residents at the Spring Mill Presbyterian Village in Lafayette Hill where she has resided for the last three years and the facility was the site of the former Spring Mill Elementary School where she had attended as a child. Mrs. Swan was also the former Cantor for over 13 years at her church and also served as their organist too. She also a past president of their Phillipians Social Group and a former member of the Whitemarsh Lioness Club. She is survived by two daughters: Frances "Beth" Bontemps (Kevin) of Silverthorn, CO, Janice Dutton (Scott) of Berwyn, PA and three sons: Thomas Swan (Janice) of Norristown, PA., John "Jake" Swan (Candace) of Lafayette Hill, PA., James Swan (Nancy) of Eagleville, PA; her father and mother () ; Sister of one brother: Arthur "Bob" Mills of Douglasville, PA.; ; 17 Grandchildren , 4 Great Grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Judith Swan in 1997 who was a former opera singer. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:00 am on Saturday, December 12 at Saint Philip Neri Church, 437 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Lower Merion Calling hours will be Saturday, December 12 from 9:30-11AM at Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Lynch Homes- 215 Cedar Ave. Willow Grove,Pa.19090. Mrs.Swan made music her lifelong passion. She embraced singing and playing the piano as a child growing up in Conshohocken. She graduated from Norristown High School in 1944 and later began a 30 year career as an operator for Bell Telephone in Norristown and Phila. Along with her husband James, Mrs.Swan was involved in theater groups such as the Whitemarsh Curtain Callers and the Dramateurs. She also was active in variety shows at her parish , St.Philip Neri Church in Lafayette Hill. Mrs.Swan spent many years as a piano teacher , tutoring children in her living room of her home in Lafayette Hill well into her 80's. She performed for years for senior citizens at St. Jospeh's Villa in Flourtown and the Marshall Lee Towers in Conshohocken. At one time she purchased an organ and donated it to the Marshall Lee Towers. In addition she volunteered for the American Cancer Society as a driver along with the Meals on Wheels Program through the Colonial Neighborhood Council. Mrs. Swan enjoyed most recently playing the piano for her fellow residents at the Spring Mill Presbyterian Village in Lafayette Hill where she has resided for the last three years and the facility was the site of the former Spring Mill Elementary School where she had attended as a child. Mrs. Swan was also the former Cantor for over 13 years at her church St.Philip Neri and also served as their organist too. She also a past president of their Phillipians Social Group and a former member of the Whitemarsh Lioness Club.