Mary Louise Swift

Mary Louise Swift, née Bunnell, of Estero, Florida, passed away on April 12, 2024. Born November 15, 1956 in Dayton, Ohio to Gertrude and Walter Bunnell, she grew up in Sidney, Ohio before attending Lehman High School, Sinclair Community College and The Ohio State University, where she graduated with a B.A. in journalism in 1978. She married her high school sweetheart, Christopher J. Swift of Piqua in 1978, settling in Shaker Heights, Ohio. 

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Chris; her three children, Jim (Mary), Betsy Porter (Rob), and Ali; grandchildren Bridget, Claire, Madeleine, and Teddy; brother, Jeff Bunnell (Gerri); and in-laws Donald Swift (Anne), Mary Ann Hilgendorf (Dick, deceased), and David Swift (Karen). Dear aunt, great-aunt, cousin, and friend to many.

Over her career, Mary was a journalist for the Lake County News Herald, following a collegiate career at OSU's The Lantern. She was a paralegal at Wuliger, Fadel, and Beyer, a legal assistant at Cochran & Cochran, and the much loved librarian at Saint Dominic School in Shaker Heights.

An avid musician, Mary played the church organ at Holy Angels in Sidney and was known for her ability to play the piano by ear. She was also a "Contest Mom," using her fast typing skills to enter, and win, many contests. Among major prizes: A Hummer 3 and many trips at home and abroad, including a trip to the ESPYs.

In the Shaker community she was an uber-volunteer, leading the FEA, the guild, and Boo Bazaar, a den mother and Cub Scout Pack 1's "Pop Colonel," and was known for her love of books (and her multiple book clubs), and Rick Steves-inspired travel. In retirement, she wrote "A Swift Look at Books" in the local paper. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mary Swift Memorial Fund at the Saint Dominic School Library or the Parkinson's Voice Project.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 18, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Brown-Forward Funeral Home, 17022 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Hts., OH 44120 in Shaker Heights. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 19, at 11:00 a.m. in The Church of St. Dominic, 19000 van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH. It will be livestreamed on Saint Dominic’s website for those who cannot attend.