May 8, 1924 — April 14, 2024
Obituary:
In loving memory of Rosanna Swanson.
Rosanna (Shoefstall) Swanson, age 99 of Fishers, Indiana, passed away on Sunday morning, April 14, 2024. She was born on May 8, 1924, in Los Angeles, California and her childhood home was in Burkburnett, Texas.
Rosanna entered the U.S. Cadet Nursing Program and graduated from nursing school in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1945. During this time, she met and married her husband, Swan Swanson, Jr. Following the war, they lived in Duluth, Minnesota; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Akron, Ohio prior to making their permanent home in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Rosanna is survived by her son Tore Swanson married to Patty Swanson. Grandchildren are Anders Swanson, Elizabeth (Jesse) Faggioli, Kara (Tom) Taylor, and Samuel Swanson.
Rosanna is preceded in death by her husband, Swan Swanson, Jr., Edward Shoefstall (father), Hattie Shoefstall (mother), Eric Swanson (son), T.J. Swanson (grandson), and Ericka Neer (granddaughter).
Private services for immediate family will be held at Flanner Buchanan – Washington Park North.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rosanna Swanson, please visit our flower store.
SVEA Tribute from 2008
Written by Jean Tygum
Tonight we want to once again honor Swan and Rosanna Swanson for their many contributions to our lodge. Since joining Svea 253 in October 1979--almost 30 years ago-- Swan and Rosanna have been ever willing, ever dependable and ever dedicated-all for the good of the order.
Their contributions truly are too numerous to count. Swan has served many times as lodge chairman. As Past Chairman, he has offered counsel and advice to the board and the new chairman. Swan currently is membership chairman and has brought many new members to our lodge over the years.
Swan has been District Master of Vasa District 8 and Parliamentarian at a District 8 convention. Swan and Rosanna also attended a Grand Lodge convention. Svea 253 has hosted three District 8 conventions, in 1983, 1992 and 2001, and Swan and Rosanna were very much involved in arranging those events and making them a success.
For years Rose and Swan have put together the lodge newsletter, the Svea Tidningen. We now also have an email version of the newsletter, the Svea Corren, but Rose and Swan continue to write, edit and mail the Svea Tidningen--the version that arrives in our mailboxes during the year.
Rosanna was coffeemaker at our lodge meetings for years and years and also lined up hostesses.
She has also rolled out hundreds-no, it has to be thousands-of meatballs over the years, and helped to make rosettes for sale at the International Festival, in the years when we had a food booth. Some of our lodge members have fond memories of drinking coffee at Rose's table while painting small heart magnets for sale at the festival. Rose also has served many terms as Lodge Historian, keeping a scrapbook of photos and other mementos.
Since the early 1990's, Swan and Rose have been in charge of merchandise for sale at the International Festival and at Luciafest. They have made numerous trips to Ikea in Schaumberg, Illinois, to purchase suitable Scandinavian items, always at their own expense, never turning in receipts for reimbursement for the trip costs. They purchased and priced the merchandise, set up the sales booth, and have been a familiar welcome sight year after year at the International Festival, always in their Swedish national costumes.
Over the years Rose and Swan have taken thousands of phone calls about every lodge matter and event--from comments or questions about meetings to questions about what to bring to the Midsommar picnic. They have kept track of reservations for Kraftskiva, Luciafest, anniversary dinners and convention dinners, and have been there to answer members who phoned to ask, "Have any limpa bread?"
They have stored the inventory after each merchandise sale and maintained inventory records on their computer. In fact, they could have been charging rent for all the space that Svea 253 merchandise has taken in their garage--and it isn't just merchandise. For years Rose took charge of the robes the boys and girls wore for the Lucia processional--laundering the robes, bringing them to Luciafest and taking them home again for storage.
For years Rose and Swan danced with the Dans Norden group, in costume, with enthusiasm and a smile. This group has also performed at the International Festival and for lodge programs.
Rose and Swan have faithfully visited the sick and the grieving. They have attended memorial services and Swan has offered touching eulogies for departed lodge members. Swan and Rose have also shared their travel experiences. Many of us remember the beautiful slide program Swan gave us on places he and Rose visited in Sweden.
"Ever willing--ever dependable--ever dedicated--all for the good of the order." Thank you, Swan and Rosanna, for your many years of loyalty, friendship and service to Vasa and to our lodge. Tack sa mycket!