Obituary for Margaret M. Swift
Margaret Madlyne Swift, 95, of Jefferson City, MO, formerly of St. Louis, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, with family by her side.
She was born on August 4, 1926 in Wilsonville, IL to John and Margaret (Mussatto) Giachetto. She was married on November 12, 1949 in Wilsonville to Robert J. Swift (Colonel, U.S. Army, retired) of Caruthersville, Missouri.
Margaret graduated salutatorian from Gillespie High School, Gillespie, Illinois. She then entered nurses’ training at St. Louis City Hospital under the auspices of the Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. After graduation, she specialized in pediatric nursing. Upon her marriage to Bob, Margaret became the consummate military officer’s wife. She was a gracious hostess, a ready volunteer, and a devoted homemaker. She supported her husband’s career and raised three children during wars, long-term separations, and the rigors of moving thirty-seven times around the world.
To all who knew her, Margaret was famous for her dry wit and wry sense of humor. She was proud of her Italian heritage and was an excellent cook. She was a skilled bridge player and was a fierce competitor in any game, from ping-pong to cards. She had many interests but none greater than her devotion to her children and grandchildren.
She was a member of St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, St. Louis, Missouri and participated in numerous parish organizations.
She is survived by her three children: Robert J. Swift, Jr. (Betsy) of Jefferson City, Missouri; Kathleen Schmidt (George) of St. Louis, Missouri; and Barbara Odegaard (John) of Newport, Rhode Island. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Leigh (Swift) McCabe (Benjamin), Overland Park, Kansas; Jennifer (Schmidt) Exum (Craig), Prosper, Texas; Marc Schmidt (Iris), Weldon Spring, Missouri; Lindsey Schmidt (Dan), St. Louis, Missouri; Katherine (Odegaard) Lowe (Jonathan), Sterling, Virginia; Adam Odegaard (Jessalyn), Camp LeJeune, North Carolina; Lauren Odegaard, Newport, Rhode Island, and by ten great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; brother, John Giachetto, and sister, Shirley Giachetto.
Visitation will be held at Kutis Funeral Home-Affton Chapel from 4:00 until 5:00 pm, Sunday, June 12, 2022. A prayer service will be held at 5:00 pm with the Reverend Charlie Prost officiating.
Private graveside services will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Monday, June 13, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary and Kutis Funeral Home in St. Louis.
She was born on August 4, 1926 in Wilsonville, IL to John and Margaret (Mussatto) Giachetto. She was married on November 12, 1949 in Wilsonville to Robert J. Swift (Colonel, U.S. Army, retired) of Caruthersville, Missouri.
Margaret graduated salutatorian from Gillespie High School, Gillespie, Illinois. She then entered nurses’ training at St. Louis City Hospital under the auspices of the Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. After graduation, she specialized in pediatric nursing. Upon her marriage to Bob, Margaret became the consummate military officer’s wife. She was a gracious hostess, a ready volunteer, and a devoted homemaker. She supported her husband’s career and raised three children during wars, long-term separations, and the rigors of moving thirty-seven times around the world.
To all who knew her, Margaret was famous for her dry wit and wry sense of humor. She was proud of her Italian heritage and was an excellent cook. She was a skilled bridge player and was a fierce competitor in any game, from ping-pong to cards. She had many interests but none greater than her devotion to her children and grandchildren.
She was a member of St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, St. Louis, Missouri and participated in numerous parish organizations.
She is survived by her three children: Robert J. Swift, Jr. (Betsy) of Jefferson City, Missouri; Kathleen Schmidt (George) of St. Louis, Missouri; and Barbara Odegaard (John) of Newport, Rhode Island. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Leigh (Swift) McCabe (Benjamin), Overland Park, Kansas; Jennifer (Schmidt) Exum (Craig), Prosper, Texas; Marc Schmidt (Iris), Weldon Spring, Missouri; Lindsey Schmidt (Dan), St. Louis, Missouri; Katherine (Odegaard) Lowe (Jonathan), Sterling, Virginia; Adam Odegaard (Jessalyn), Camp LeJeune, North Carolina; Lauren Odegaard, Newport, Rhode Island, and by ten great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; brother, John Giachetto, and sister, Shirley Giachetto.
Visitation will be held at Kutis Funeral Home-Affton Chapel from 4:00 until 5:00 pm, Sunday, June 12, 2022. A prayer service will be held at 5:00 pm with the Reverend Charlie Prost officiating.
Private graveside services will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Monday, June 13, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary and Kutis Funeral Home in St. Louis.