Pamela Swanson

1957-06-30 2007-04-04

Pamela Sue "Penny" Swanson, 49, of Stillwater, and formerly of Hudson, died on Wednesday, April 4, at the Greeley Health Care Center in Stillwater after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Born on June 30, 1957, in Hudson to Curtis and Frances (Hoversholm) Swanson, Pamela promptly became affectionately known to her family as "Penny."

Pam attended schools in Hudson and graduated from Hudson High School in 1975. Pam would then attend the City College of Cosmetology in Eau Claire and work for many years as a hairstylist at Harold's Hairstyling, Modern Beauty Shop and The Stylists in Hudson. Pam had also worked recently at Wal-Mart in Stillwater.

Pam's son, Curtis Michael Cavanaugh, was born on Feb. 8, 1999, and was always the joy of her life. She delighted in teaching him the basics of Norwegian as well as other languages.

Much of Pam's interests involved her love of music and singing. Pam was a gifted singer, and she enjoyed both keyboard and guitar. Her love of music led her to be an involved member of the vocal choir and the bell choir at United Methodist Church.

As a young adult, Pam traveled to Hawaii, and later she traveled with the church bell choir on trips to Norway and England. Pam treasured her time spent in the bell choir and the friendships that were fostered there. Pam was also an accomplished trivia buff.

Pam will be missed by her son, Curtis Michael Cavanaugh; brothers, Dale (Dawn Anderson) Swanson of Milltown, Duane (Beth) Swanson of Hudson; sister, Patricia (Rick Diehl) Laughnan of Hudson; nieces and nephews, Kristine (Brett) Clarke, Sandra (Mike) Dotseth, Jason (Sonya) Swanson, Jeremy (fiancee Amy Beyer) Swanson, Kari (Sean) Stevens and Jodi (Travis) Gibson; lifelong best friend, Wendy (Dave) Nelson of Marine on St. Croix, Minn.; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Pam was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Frances Swanson; and infant nieces, Tasia Marie Laughnan and Chayene Nicole Clarke.

A Celebration of Life for Pamela Sue "Penny" Swanson was at 7 p.m. Monday, April 9, at the United Methodist Church in Hudson. Special music was provided by the United Methodist Church Bell Choir and organist Mary Post.

Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. at the church, before the service.  A private family interment was in Willow River Cemetery in Hudson.

Memorials are preferred to the family. Cremation services provided by the Countryside Crematory of Baldwin. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the O'Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson.


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