Dolores L. Swedowski, 86 of Bevent, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 30, 2018 at Marshfield Medical Center surrounded by her loving husband and family.
Dolores was born on November 13, 1931 in Stevens Point, the daughter of the late Alvin and Laura (Frydock) Laska.
As a young girl, Dolores moved from Stevens Point to Wausau and worked at the Wausau Hospital as a candy striper. She then moved to Milwaukee for a time and lived with an aunt for work. During her time in Milwaukee, she met and fell in love with her “Polish Boyfriend,” Raymond. They were united in marriage on October 28, 1950 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Wausau and together they had 67 years of marriage. After marriage they moved to a farm in Peplin for five years, then to the homestead in Bevent where they remained and raised their loving and growing family.
Dolores grew an organic garden, before it became popular, to feed her large family. She canned hundreds of quarts of fruits and vegetables annually. She raised her own chickens for eggs and for traditional Sunday chicken dinners for the family. Dolores baked six loaves of her delicious bread three times a week, which was a family treat. Dolores worked from sun up to sun down raising her children, tending to the household and also helping Raymond with the farm work, bailing hay, picking potatoes, milking cows and many other farming tasks. Dolores loved to go blackberry picking and mushroom picking. She enjoyed quilting, knitting, needle pointing, embroidering and making clothes for her children. Many of Delores’ talents have been passed down to her children and grandchildren. In retirement, Dolores enjoyed reading many books and watching her grandchildren.
Dolores is survived and will be deeply missed by her husband, Raymond; ten children, Arlene (Jerry) Garski, Sandi (Victor) Schuttenberg, Dianne (Ralph) Cherek, Barb (Donald) Sarenpa, Karen (Myron ‘John’) Omernik, Ellen (Mike) Wanta, Janice (Rob) Staszak, Kenneth Swedowski, Mick Swedowski and Sherry (Mark) Wanta; 23 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gerald (Kathy) Laska and Mike (Mary) Laska; four sisters, Lorraine Hornung, Betty Booth, Marge Johnsen and Bernice Missall; three sisters-in-law, Delores Swedowski, Lorraine Jakubowski and Phyllis Laska.
Dolores was preceded in death by her parents; one child, Cynthia Rose; one grandchild, Tracy; four brothers, Hank (Lydia), Robert (Sophia), Eugene and Norbert and three sisters, Caroline Repinski, Theresa Mearek and JoAnn Ziebell.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 6, 2018 at St. Ladislaus Catholic Church in Bevent. Rev. Jeffrey Hennes will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the time of Mass at the church. Inurnment will be in the Parish Cemetery.
Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared at
schmidtschulta.com
or at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home on Facebook.
The family would like to give their heartfelt gratitude and thanks to Sister Mary Ellen Diermeier for spiritual guidance and to Acorn Hills staff for the care provided to Dolores during her stay.
