Alberta Swavey

My Mom’s faith became sight on January 15, 2022 when she walked into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 2:5)  She was taken away from this earth due to complications of pneumonia.  She was born in Meadville, PA on April 21, 1941 to Carl Raymond and Dorothy Mae (Turner) Peters.  She graduated in 1959 from Randolph East Mead High School.  My Mom was highly intelligent earning co-salutatorian, missing valedictorian by only two points.  She attended Rochester Business Institute then moved to Denver, Colorado with her family.  She married my Dad, Gary Swavey in 1960.  Later, my Mom and Dad moved back to Meadville to raise their children.  They divorced in 1972.  My mom is survived by her children, Ken Swavey and his wife, Tammy of Saegertown, Brian Swavey and his wife, Shanon of Conneautville and Brenda Petrick and her husband, Daniel of Meadville as well as her grandchildren, Morgan, Maddy, Kyla and Ava.  Her surviving siblings are Carla Day of South Shore, Kentucky and Wayne Peters and his wife, Lyn of North East, PA.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Richard and Donald Peters.

My mom was known for being straightforward, feisty and a bit quirky.  She was loved and adored by staff at Rolling Fields and the Crawford County Care Center.  She enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, cross-stitching, making latch hook rugs, listening to Elvis, Christian/County music and her late beloved pets, Angel and Blue.  She could make delicious chocolate, banana and coconut cream pies.  She enjoyed attending church with her son, Brian, and his family at Calvary Baptist Church.  In her younger years, she fluently played the accordion.  Previously, I used to hate the sound of the accordion, but I would love to hear one more song right now.

My Mom worked at Alltel Phone Company for almost twenty years in various positions.  She retired early to take time to address her mental health.

My Mom suffered the majority of her adult life with mental illness.  Although it was not the direct cause of her death, it contributed indirectly.  Over the years, she suffered from Bipolar Disorder and many episodes continuing to crash onto her shores like breaking storms.  It seemed that each impending storm took a greater toll and took away a part of who she was from us, and from herself.  As the destruction of the waves hit her time after time, a little bit of my Mom would disappear with each.  Our family strongly encourages everyone to address your mental health and remember it is okay to not be okay.

A special thanks to Maddy for taking care of Mom while she was in the Crawford County Care Center and the nursing staff at the Meadville Medical Center.

The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to: Tails of Hope, Inc. W PA, 2450 Hoezle Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148 or Calvary Baptist Church, C/O Charis Cupboard, 543 Randolph St. Meadville, PA 16335.

Please sign Alberta’s online guestbook at www.hatheway-tedesco.com .

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hatheway-Tedesco Funeral Home and Crematory, 614 Baldwin St., Meadville, PA 16335.