Life Tribute – Carmelita Swinney

Carmelita Swinney

                  Carmelita Laura Swinney went home to be with our Lord Jesus June 14, 2021 due to a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Carmelita was born in North Bend Oregon April 15, 1930 to Velzora Marie (Purdy) Goodrich and Ray William Goodrich. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Glen Edwin Swinney who passed May 28, 1995.

Carmelita is survived by her children Cammie (Dante) Callegari of Susanville, Charles Homer Swinney, of Susanville, and Kaitlan Beau Reyes, of South Lake Tahoe. Also survived are grandchildren Sergio Callegari, of Reno, Danae Polan, of Susanville, Samantha Swinney, of Susanville, and Austin Potts, of South Lake Tahoe.

Carmelita grew up in North Bend, Oregon, moving to Visalia, California in 1945 where she met and married Glen Edwin Swinney Dec. I, 1945. In 1958 Carmelita and Glen moved to Oakland, California where Glen drove bus for AC Transit and Carmelita worked retail for Woolworth’s. In 1961 they moved to Janesville to start their family and a new career with the Sierra Army Depot.

Carmelita was a hard worker always involved in the community and charitable events. She worked in the Janesville School cafeteria and was very involved with the PTA. She also volunteered her time to the Thompson Peak 4-H club, Honey Lake Valley Riders Equestrian Club and the local camping club. She loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and loved cooking for everyone.

After retirement Carmelita and Glen worked for social services, Child Protective Service, transporting children throughout the state for foster care. This was very rewarding for them for they wanted to help those children in need and serve the community.

She was devoted to her husband and dearly loved her children who she adopted at birth. Always loving them unconditionally throughout their lives, reminding them they were chosen by her.

She was not only beautiful on the outside, she had the fruit of the spirit written on her heart. She was filled with unconditional love, full of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control which could only come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She will be greatly missed but the spirit of her will live on forever.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 12 at Walton’s Colonial Mortuary, 115 South Lassen Street, Susanville with an interment/graveside service held at the Janesville Cemetery and a funeral reception to follow at Senior Center, 1700 Sunkist Drive, Susanville, California.