Leona Louise (Aurand) Swigart, 97, formerly of McClure, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2020, at Ohesson Manor.
Born Aug. 8, 1922, in Lewistown, she was the oldest child of the late George D. and Emma Mae (Grabbe) Aurand.
After graduating from Lewistown High School in 1939, she was employed at Montgomery Ward as a clerk.
On Sept. 21, 1941, Leona married George Mitchell Swigart. They celebrated 56 years of marriage until his passing in March 1998.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by: a brother, Charles Monroe Aurand; step-brother, Edwin Solt; and step-mother, Sydney (Solt) Aurand.
Leona is survived by: her children, Jay Leon (Susie) Swigart, of Girard, Ill., Miriam E. (Gerald) Wachob, of Ephrata, Harold A. (Nancy) Swigart, of McClure, and Jane L. (Donald) Wagner, of New Providence; nine grandchildren, Suzanne Tichenel, Douglas Williams, Christopher Swigart, Laura Wiles, Carolyn Wetter, Molly Bishop, Janine Cuddy, Heather Rodriquez and Emily Neff; 20 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Marlin G. Aurand, of Belleville; sister, Ethel V. Smith, of Vira; sister-in-law, Doris Solt; and several nieces and nephews.
Leona and her husband raised their family on a farm near McClure and werre members of the Maitland Church of the Brethren. She was a faithful Sunday School teacher for many years. She also served as a 4-H leader and was a Food and Nutrition Program advisor for the Snyder County Extension Office. After retiring from farming, she was employed as a teller at Lewistown Trust Company, now Juniata Valley Bank. She loved her family deeply, was an avid gardener and enjoyoed traveling.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family, with Rev. Charles Eldredge officiating.
Interment will take place at Spring Run Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Ferguson Valley Road, McVeytown.
A time of remembrance of Leona's life will be incorporated into the regular July 19, 2020, Sunday morning worship service beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Maitland Church of the Brethren, 315 Crossover Drive, Lewistown.
Memorial contributions in Leona's Memory may be made to Maitland Church of the Brethren, 315 Crossover Dr., Lewistown, PA 17044, to support the development of a prayer garden at the church grounds.
Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 North Main St., Lewistown, is in charge of arrangements.
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