Sylvia Ann Swanson

WINTHROP – Sylvia Ann Swanson, 93, died peacefully on June 21, 2025, at her home with her loving family by her side.

Sylvia was born in Wilton on April 27, 1932, the daughter of the late Albion and Dorothy (Babb) Douglass. She graduated in 1950 from Wilton Academy. She served in the Women’s Army Corps for three years. She received her lab tech training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and worked as a lab tech, attaining the rank of Sergeant at Fort Bragg, N.C. During her first marriage, she lived in Germany, France, the Philippines and several Army bases in the South. She worked as a lab tech in the VA Hospital in Augusta, Ga. for three years and a year in Maryland.

Returning to Maine in 1965, Sylvia worked briefly as a hostess at the Steer House in Winthrop, a clerk at W.T. Grant Store in Augusta and a clerk for Roland LaVallee Photo Store. She married Carl Swanson of Winthrop in 1969 and had lived at Narrows Pond Road ever since. She worked as a CNA at Nicholson’s Nursing Home in Winthrop for several years until her retirement.

Sylvia attended Winthrop United Methodist Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed flower gardening, reading, sewing, knitting, crossword puzzles, scrabble, walking, TV game shows, westerns and mysteries.

The family wishes to thank all those who gave her wonderful care, Maine General Medical Care, Andwell Home Nurses and Andwell Hospice Care, all who made it possible to spend her final days at home.

Sylvia was predeceased by her sisters June Gardiner and husband Theodore and Dorothy Gerard and husband Joseph, and a brother, James Douglass.

She is survived by her husband, Carl Swanson of Winthrop; a daughter, Nancy Sawyer and her partner Ronald Arsenault of Gray; a sister, Carol Varnam and her husband Charles of Winthrop, sister-in-law, Betty Douglass and partner James Hall of E. Dixfield, brother-in-law, William Henry Jr. of Rhode Island; several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 11, at 10 a.m. at Lakeview Cemetery, Narrows Pond Road, Winthrop, with the Rev. Ned Crockett officiating.

Arrangements and guidance are under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Roberts Funeral Home website http://www.KHRFuneralHomes.com.