Joan Marie Swenson

1928–2026

Joan Marie Swenson of Fairfield, Connecticut, and New Smyrna Beach, Florida, died peacefully in her sleep on October 3, 2026. Born to Albert and Marie Nelson on December 9, 1928, Joan lived a long, healthy and full life.

Her parents, immigrants from Sweden and Denmark, respectively, journeyed to the United States in their late teens to join other family members seeking new lives. Joan and her older brother, Allen, grew up in the Flushing section of Queens, New York. Joan attended P.S. 120 and, because of her high academic performance, was selected to attend Hunter College High School in New York City—entailing a daily hour-long commute each way via subway.

She graduated from Columbia Presbyterian nursing school in 1950. That same year, she married her brother Allen's close college schoolmate, James Norton Swenson. Joan and Jim initially lived in Queens, where she worked as a staff nurse at Flushing Hospital from 1951 to 1952 and then as an occupational nurse for Mojud Hosiery Company in Long Island City from 1953 to 1955.

In 1955, Joan and Jim moved to Packanack Lake in Wayne, New Jersey. Their daughter, Kristin Ann, was born that year, followed by their son Erik James in 1957. In 1959, the family moved to a lakefront house nearby, where boating and life on the water were important parts of the family's life. Their third child, Andrew Norton, was born in 1964.

While raising her children, Joan became a volunteer with the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad, responding to emergency calls at all hours and driving one of the squad's ambulances. She and Jim enjoyed racing small one-design sailboats as well as chartering larger ones to Block Island—a favorite family vacation spot—and in the Caribbean. Joan served as Vice Commodore of the Packanack Yacht Club and was a frequent hostess for local social gatherings. She also belonged to an informal bridge club, painted watercolors, and loved gardening. She had a lifelong instinct for caring for animals, fostering lost dogs and nursing injured and orphaned birds and squirrels. Their second rescue dog, Carina, was a longtime family member.

Joan returned to paid employment in 1968 as a research assistant in the Human Radiobiology Department of Argonne National Laboratory -- conducting field research exploring the health impact on workers of radium exposure. After that project ended in 1971, she became an acting administrator and nursing aide instructor for the Community Cooperative Health Medical Assistance Program in Newark, New Jersey.

Continuing her education while working, Joan attended William Paterson College at night from 1969 through 1973, earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing. In 1975, she taught Health Occupations at Kinnelon High School in New Jersey. From 1976 through 1979, she worked as a staff nurse at Barnard College Health Services, while attending Teachers College, Columbia University, at night and earning a master's degree in teaching. In 1979, she joined Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing in New Jersey, where she taught nursing until 1992.

Along with her work life, Joan gladly devoted her energies to supporting and caring for family members as they lived out their later years. Despite the untimely deaths of her son Andrew in 1981 and husband Jim in 1988, Joan continued to embrace life. Maintaining strong relationships with friends and family near and far was important to her. She eventually relocated to Fairfield, Connecticut, to be closer to her daughter Kris, while continuing to spend winters at her New Smyrna Beach home, where she was known in the Seawoods community for hosting many a neighborhood gathering. She drove between Connecticut and Florida by herself well into her late 80s. She traveled extensively both domestically and abroad with a lifelong nursing friend and took great pleasure in her grandchildren, whom she enjoyed taking on Elderhostel trips.

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Jim, and son, Andrew. She is survived by her daughter, Kristin (Peter), and son, Erik (Kathryn); grandchildren Julia, Kirsten, Eric, Sarah, Andrew and Amelia; and great-grandchildren Kristopher, Caspian and Sally. 

Joan's life was characterized by curiosity, independence, service and caring about other people. At almost 98, she left behind a family and many others whose lives were enriched for having known her.

In accordance with Joan’s wishes, memorial service will be private.