The Shadow
CHARLOTTESVILLE – Doris Mae “Penny” Blatchley Swaim, 86, of The Colonnades, Charlottesville and formerly of Ingalls Street, Clifton Forge, died Saturday, April 24, 2010 under the care of Hospice of Piedmont at her residence.
She was born March 30, 1924 in Erie, Pa. to the late Clifford Harold Blatchley Sr. and Louisa Grace Fritz Willenbucker.
She retired as a Registered Nurse from Alleghany Regional Hospital and Bath County Community Hospital.
While a resident of Clifton Forge, she was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where she was very active behind the scenes in various church activities, and was a current member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlottesville.
She enjoyed gardening and caring for the people around her, including taking part in the Meals on Wheels program in both Clifton Forge and Charlottesville.
She especially loved her children and grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin James Swaim in September 1996; a brother, Clifford Blatchley Jr.; and two cousins, Edna Boyce and Mabelle Boyce.
She is survived by two daughters, Ms. Teresa L. Swaim of Charlottesville and Debra S. Trowbridge and husband, Michael of Catlett; a brother, Robert D. Blatchley of California; nine half-sisters, Patricia Vargo of Ohio, Judy Corso of Arizona, Barbara Cleary of Florida, Delores Dougherty of Florida, Francine Ott of Oregon, Cynthia Lemmon of California, Cassandra Gagnon of California, Maggie Williams of Pennsylvania and Sue Abbott of Pennsylvania; three half-brothers, Jim Blatchley of Florida, Ron Blatchley of Texas and Tom Blatchley of Florida; two grandchildren, Lianna Mei Trowbridge and Tessa Shengyu Trowbridge, and a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Clifton Forge, with the Rev. Louis Benoit officiating.
Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 620 Jefferson Ave, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422.
Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is in handling arrangements.
To send condolences to the family online, visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.
