Mary Jane Nagoda Swanson Shingler passed on to God on November 29, 2019. She was born September 7, 1930 in Export, PA. to parents who were immigrants from Yugoslavia.
She was delivered at home by a midwife and was an unexpected twin. In her younger years, she was offered an exciting opportunity to play professional women’s basketball in Pittsburgh. She instead chose to pursue a more long-range career in nursing. She graduated from Columbia Hospital School of Nursing, Pittsburgh PA. in 1951. She worked in several different areas of nursing afterward.
She is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Mary Nagoda. Mary Jane had two siblings, Rose Balest and twin brother Edward Nagoda who also have been deceased for several years. She is predeceased by her first husband Gerald R. Swanson and second husband Raymond V. Shingler.
She is survived by her three children, Gerald “Jerry” (Deb) Swanson, Jr. of Ghent, WV, Cathy “Cat” (Jack) McClanahan of Big Stone Gap, VA and Stuart (Leslie) Swanson of Roanoke VA. Mary Jane has four grandchildren: Todd (Pamela) Swanson, Kelly (Joshua) Linville, Meredith (Matthew) Rouse and Sam McClanahan. She also has two step grandchildren: Jennifer Ceravone and Chris DellaMea. She has eight great grandchildren.
Her family would like to thank and recognize Connie Willis and husband Greg. Connie has been a special friend and caregiver for the past four years. Connie’s kindness, gracious loving care and dedication made Mary Jane’s final years happy and blessed.
A word of appreciation goes out to those who have helped Mary Jane through this difficult time to include: Janie and Earl Workman, Connie and Jay Kinder, Molly Hortenstine, Deanna Reynolds, Julia Bragg, Becky Stapleton, Evelyn Nunez, Marilyn and Dean Tate, JoAnn and Bob Spratt and her fellow Christians at Abingdon Church of Christ. Also, thanks to Mary Jane’s nursing school roommate and longtime friend, Martie Butler for her continued contact and cards.
Many, many thanks to all the special nurses, housekeeping, dietary, social work, activities, maintenance and administrative staff at Abingdon Health and Rehab. Center for their patient and generous care. A most special thanks to all the CNAs who give so much of themselves to care for their patients.
Services will be held at Frost Funeral Home, Abingdon, VA on Monday, December 2, 2019. Visitation will be from 1 pm to 3 pm. Service will be held at 3 pm in the chapel at Frost Funeral Home. Services will be officiated by Minister, Bill Haywood of Abingdon Church of Christ. After cremation, her ashes will be interred in a family cemetery on Middle Mountain in Monroe County, WV.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to Abingdon Church of Christ, P.O. Box 604, Abingdon, VA 24212 is welcomed.