Joan A.

"Joannie" Swankowski

At 79 years of age, Joannie passed away on Friday, August 11th at the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.  Joannie recently and courageously battled with cancer for the past several months.

Born and raised in Chelsea, Joannie was one of five children of the late John and Raffaella L. (Parrotta) Memmolo.

Joannie attended schools in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School in 1962.  She was married to Chester J. Swankowski, Jr. for 50 years and together raised a son and daughter.

Joannie was passionately devoted to home and family.  She also worked for the Metropolitan Credit Union for over 25 years as a Member Services Associate.

Together with her husband they spent several years between their Chelsea home and home in "Prince Creek" in Murrells Inlet, S.C.  Following their retirement in 2008, they made S.C. their permanent home.  Joannie was widowed by her husband Chet in 2018 and remained in S.C. for the past 5 years.

In her lifetime Joannie enjoyed bowling with the Chelsea Knights of Columbus "Dames" Bowling League, participating in the many community activities at Prince Creek, and occasional trips to the casino.

She was the beloved wife of 50 years to the late Chester J. Swankowski, Jr.  Loving mother of Chester J. Swankowski, III and his wife Suzanne of Tewksbury, and Cheri Swankowski and her husband Dominic Pegnato, III of Methuen.  Dear sister of the late Louis "Sonny" Memmolo, survived by his wife Diane of Delaware, Maria Simmons and her husband Robert of Atkinson, NH, Rosemary O'Callaghan of No. Andover, and her late husband Richard, John Memmolo and his wife Linda of Revere, and dear sister-in-law of Cheryl Sullivan of Brockton, and her late husband John.  She is also survived by several cousins, extended family members and friends.

Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend visiting hours In the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Wednesday, August 16th, from 4 - 8 P.M. Funeral from the Welsh Funeral Home on Thursday, August 17th, at 9:00 A.M.  Followed by a funeral mass at Our Lady of Grace Church, 59 Nichols St. Chelsea at 10:30 A.M. Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

Should friends desire, contributions in Joannie's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 1120, Framingham, MA 01701 https://donate.cancer.org/