Flostella "Stella" Swanson

Flostella “Stella” Swanson, age 93, of Indianapolis, passed away on January 2, 2021 from COVID-19. She was born on March 9, 1927 in Jenkins, Kentucky to the late William Thornton Collins and Kate Collins.

After World War II, she and her husband Dewey moved from Jenkins, Kentucky to Indianapolis.  Stella graduated nursing school and began a career as an LPN at Community Hospital East in Indianapolis shortly after it opened in 1956.  She loved her time at Community and worked in many areas including surgery, emergency, labor and delivery, and intensive care units.  Her love for the job was evident as she would often come home and talk about the happenings of the day at Community. Her hard-working, nurturing and empathetic disposition along with that wonderful smile made her a great nurse, often getting thank you notes from her former patients. In 1966, Stella decided she wanted to spend more time at home with her family and left Community Hospital to become at stay-at-home parent. As a mother she was the BEST, she was supportive, encouraging, loving and always there whenever needed. Throughout her life, she was always taking care of others, including babysitting neighborhood kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Stella’s smile and presence would light up a room, and everyone she met was blessed by her huge heart and kind soul. Stella was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church and a lifelong resident of the eastside of Indianapolis.

Stella enjoyed reading, drawing, shopping, music (she was often found on the dance floor), and gossiping with her sisters – Bonda and Patsy (the kids lovingly referred to it as CNN for Collins News Network). She loved watching a good Hallmark movie, spending time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and most of all spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren Jason, Kristen, and Courtney, and great-grandchildren Johnathan and Ben. She was also known to feed and take care of stray animals in the neighborhood.

Stella was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dewey E. Swanson; grandson, Jason Swanson; and brother, Timbrook Collins.  Her sister, Bonda O’Gara, passed away on January 4.

Stella is survived by her son, Dewey A. Swanson (Dawn) of Indianapolis; granddaughters, Kristen Swanson (Petr Sliva) of Indianapolis and Courtney Swanson of Indianapolis; great-grandsons, Johnathan Swanson of Greenwood and Benjamin Swanson of Greenwood; sister, Patsy Hall of Detroit, MI; sister in-law, Vivian Collins of Dorton, KY. Stella is also survived by many nephews and nieces.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, a private service will be held for family Friday, January 8^th at Washington Park East. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Indianapolis Humane Society, 7929 N Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, or at  https://indyhumane/get_involved/donate 

To view Stella’s service on Friday, January 8 at 12 PM, please click here.

The family has created a tribute video you may view at https://youtu.be/kiontV45T_Q.