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Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Bernice Swain memorial set for January 22 at Crescent Church


Bernice Swain (left) and fellow Plainfield Garden Club stalwart
the late Barbara Sandford at a party a number of years ago.
 

An email I received Tuesday advised that a memorial for Bernice Swain is set for Sunday, January 22, at Noon at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church. Bernice passed away on December 19, 2016 and was buried at Hillside Cemetery in a private service.

Here is the obit from the Memorial Funeral Home website (see here) --
Bernice Loizeax Swain passed away peacefully on Monday, December 19, 2016. Born at home on Hillside Avenue in Plainfield, New Jersey on October 23, 1922, Bernice was a longtime resident of Plainfield. She was a graduate of Plainfield High School and a graduate of Hollins College in Virginia where she was a Fine Arts student, with a major in music. She was also a graduate of Juliard, where she studied pedagogy. Subsequently, she taught piano in her home.

While she and her husband moved to Watchung in the early 1950's, they moved back to Plainfield in 1973 and settled on Prospect Avenue. Bernice was an avid volunteer and a member of both the Watchung Garden Club and the Plainfield Garden Club for over 50 years. She was the past president and served on the Executive board of the Kings Daughter's Day School, she was a long time member of the Junior League of Elizabeth and Plainfield, the Plainfield Symphony Auxillary, the Plainfield Music Club, the Muhlenberg Hospital Auxillary, and served on the Plainfield Historical Society. Her love of plants and flowers found her right at home spending summer days at the Shakespeare Garden.

Bernice was married at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church where she was an active member until the time of her passing. She served as a deacon, was active in the ladies' auxiliary, and for many years coordinated and arranged flowers throughout the church.

She was predeceased by her husband Walter P. Swain, Jr., her sister Florence Loizeaux Ritchie, and brother David Loizeaux. She is survived by four children, Ann Barlow Swain, Carol Loizeaux Swain Davenport, Henry Loizeaux Swain, and Timothy Woodward Swain; ten grandchildren, Rory McQuillan, Max and Eli Davenport, Taylor, Paige, Zachary, and Logan Swain, and Ryan, Spencer and Nicholas Swain; and five great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church in Plainfield on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 12 Noon. A private graveside service was held at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bernice's memory to The King's Daughters Day School, 502 W. Front St., Plainfield, NJ 07060, to the The Historical Society of Plainfield, 602 West Front St.,Plainfield, NJ 07060, The Plainfield Symphony, P.O. Box 5093, Plainfield, NJ 07061, or to the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Bernice will be remembered by her many friends in the community, especially for her work with the Drake House, the Plainfield Garden Club and the Shakespeare Garden, and the Kings Daughters Day School.

  -- Dan Damon [follow]
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