Joan Elaine Swallow, of Turlock, passed away on Feb. 13, 2012 after a brief illness.
Known as Elaine to family and friends, she was born April 18, 1941 in Doylestown, PA to Amos and Virginia Krusen. She met her husband of 44 years, Mark in Alaska in 1966. After moving to New York for one year, Mark and Elaine settled in Turlock in 1968 where they raised their 3 daughters. Elaine worked for many years at Banquet Foods and Nordic Saw & Tooth in Turlock, but her passion was being a homemaker while raising her daughters and being a grandmother.
Some of her joys in life were spending holidays and birthdays with her family, having a swimming pool built at their home, participating in the Turlock Women's Bowling Association, being active in the Crowell School PTA, attending James Taylor concerts and shopping with her daughters. She also attended Stanislaus County Fair throughout the years with her family, and babysat her grandchildren.
Elaine was preceded in death by her father Amos Krusen, stepfather William Hyndshaw, and brother Jay Hyndshaw.
Elaine is survived by her loving husband, Mark Swallow; daughters Marcy Tavernas (Brian), Lesley Bragdon (Tom), and Jody Carvalho; grandchildren Sidney Bragdon,Kaylee Tavernas, Hannah Bragdon, Garrett Bragdon, Paris Tavernas, Landen Borges, and Allie Borges all of Turlock; mother Virginia Hyndshaw of Morrisville, PA; brothers Larry Krusen of Dylestown, PA and Bill Hyndshaw (Sharon) of Spring Brook Township, PA; and sisters Ginny Ceriani (Ray) of Morrisville, PA and Tricia Yates (Kevin) of Levittown, PA.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made online to Community Hospice Foundation in care of Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, CA.
To honor Elaine's wishes a private ceremony will be held to celebrate her life.