Charlotte Marie Swenson

October 13, 1928 – April 19, 2020
Charlotte Marie Swenson (Anderson), 91, of Indianapolis, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully from on April 19, 2020 in Fishers, IN from congestive heart failure. She had been ill for some time, and had become a bit forgetful but was always in good spirits and kept her sense of humor. We loved her deeply and miss her smiling face.

She was born in Chicago, IL, to the late Arvid and Alma Anderson of the Vårmland farm region of Sweden. She is the dear sister of Donald Anderson of Palos Verdes Estates, CA, and had many first and second cousins in Sweden.
A child of the Great Depression, she understood the meaning of having a close-knit family. From ages 1 to 6 she and her immediate family lived with aunts, uncles and cousins on Chicago’s South and West sides. She often spoke of her father, a carpenter, who was jobless for 5 years. She was proud of the fact that he was resourceful and a hard worker after the Depression. She remained friends with classmates from Byford Elementary School and Austin High School (class of ’46) both in Chicago, and Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL, where she received her Associates degree. Through the years she attended many class reunions at these schools and frequently corresponded with close friends made there.

Char first met her future husband Ray Swenson at a bus stop in Chicago. Ray had been recently discharged from the Army, and they recognized each other from their days at Austin High School. They were active in a Teens and Twenties group at his church and also enjoyed dancing on Saturday nights to the 1940’s Big Band sound at area ballrooms. On August 27, 1949, Char and Ray were married. They made their home in Indianapolis after Ray finished his Ph.D. and started teaching at Butler University.

Char was a hard worker, organized, conscientious, generous, and self-less with a heart for the less fortunate and those who are overlooked. Whatever she did, she put her whole heart into it. A woman of faith, Char served as a Deaconess at Northminster Presbyterian Church where she was a member for over 58 years. There, she was also active in Bible study with Circle, played in several bridge groups and, and with her husband made many lifelong friends in Tandem Club. An avid gardener, she was a member of the All Thumbs Garden Club for over 35 years. After college and through the years while raising her children, she served as a Girl Scout leader for 25 years both in Chicago and Indianapolis.
Always curious about history and heritage, Char took Swedish and Norwegian language lessons later in life. This led to painting lessons in the traditional Norwegian style called rosemåling. Char was an active member of the Swedish Vasa Club and the Sons of Norway and thus kept cultural traditions alive for her family through the years (Ray was of Norwegian heritage). She and Ray shared a passion for genealogy and traced Char’s family roots in Sweden back to the 1700’s.

Family was of prime importance, and her beloved summer cottage at Pretty Lake served as a magnet, drawing family and friends to share in work, laughter, pontoon boat rides, and making memories for 46 years. Char also maintained close ties with her family in Sweden, visiting many times over the years.

Charlotte is survived by her brother Donald Andersson, daughters Vicki Bruning (Don), Beth Morris (Doug), Wendy de Luca (Giovanni), and son Jeff (Jill), and grandchildren Abby and Andy Morris, Laura and Angela de Luca, Melina and Ava Swenson.

The family wishes to give a special thanks to the staff at Hamilton Trace Senior Living and Meadow Brook Senior Living. The attention that she received at both was wonderful, kind, and caring.

Visitation hours will be held from 12 pm until 2pm, Sunday, October, 24 2021 at Flanner Buchanan-Oaklawn Memorial Gardens (Conner Suite), 9700 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis where Celebration of Life services will follow at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, Char would be delighted if you perform a random act of kindness in her memory.
Memorial contributions may be made to Vasa Svea Lodge 253, Attn: Ulla Williams Treasurer VASA 253, 270 Earl Park Way, Westfield, IN 46074-8979; Sons of Norway Circle City Lodge. Attn: Burton Vittler, 7117 Lantern Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46256 or the Butler University H. Raymond Swenson Endowed Scholarship Fund, University Advancement Office, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Avenue., Indianapolis, IN 46208. (Gifts can also be made online at www.butler.edu/gifts. Be sure to select the “honorary and memorial gifts” section to indicate your contribution is in memory of Mrs. Charlotte Swenson.)

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