Theresa Marie Swenson

Theresa M. Swenson, mother of four, grandmother of seven, great-grandmother of seven and friend of way too many to count, died Jan. 31, 2017, at Hoosier Village Health Care Center, Indianapolis. Theresa focused much of her adult life on children, loving her own as well as many she didn’t know.

Until her first child was born in 1945, she worked as a nurse in a ward for premature infants, helping to save many tiny lives long before modern medicine made such miracles more routine. Later, she became a longtime volunteer with the Camp Fire Girls organization. But her biggest legacy with children was her nearly 50 years of volunteer work at Crossroads Rehabilitation Center, now Easter Seals Crossroads, serving as president of both the Crossroads Guild and Crossroads Volunteer Association. In 2003, the guild honored her with its Heart of Gold award, given to a person with a “generous spirit; willing and loving hands; a kind, caring heart; and giving of oneself beyond the expected.” In 2008, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard presented her with a Mayor’s Community Service Award.

Born on Aug. 30, 1918, in Detroit to Hungarian immigrant parents, Theresa Boross moved to Burlington, Iowa, at a young age and then Chicago, where she was raised by Anna Drexler. In 1939, Theresa, then a nursing student at Loyola in Chicago, met Illinois-Chicago dental student Henry M. Swenson on a blind date. They married Dec. 20, 1941, a union that continued more than 71 years until his death July 21, 2013. She had lived in Indianapolis since 1943 when Henry took a position with the Indiana University School of Dentistry and opened a private practice.

Theresa was active with the Indianapolis District Dental Auxiliary and Indiana University Faculty Wives Association, serving as president of both organizations. She loved to entertain, and thought nothing of inviting 20 people over for dinner, sometimes on the spur of the moment, hosting such gatherings well into her 80s. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Irvington Dance Club and Twin Lakes Golf Club.

Survivors include her children, Carol (Ken) Jue, Keene, N.H., Nancy (Michael) Kosares, Denver, Patti Beardsley, Raleigh, N.C., and Tom (Jane Howey) Swenson, Indianapolis; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at Flanner and Buchanan-Washington Park North Funeral Center, with a celebration of her life to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to Easter Seals Crossroads, 4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205.