Patricia Jean Swaja

Patricia Jean Swaja, 87, a resident of the Forest Grove community passed away on November 6, 2024 at her home.
Pat was born on August 27, 1937 in St Johns, OR. She was the seventh of eight children born to Albert and Grace (Gillis) Cannard. She was raised in St. Johns and attended Immaculata High School in Portland.
She met her future husband, David Swaja, while working at her job at the movie theater. They courted for two years and married on May 5, 1956 in Portland, OR.  They made their home in and around Portland, and in 1973 they settled in Banks.
Pat was a loving and devoted mother to her six children. She also worked outside the home as a meat wrapper, bus driver, bartender, home school teacher and a warehouse manager.
Being outdoors was her happy place, gardening, working on their property, and collecting rocks wherever she went to add to her landscaping projects.  Pat was an avid runner, took karate classes, and had great fun spending time with her friends.  She was very involved with her church as a CCD teacher, as well as the Youth Militia of the Immaculata program, and was able to attend World Youth Day in Denver Colorado as a chaperone with a contingent of local youth to see Pope John Paul II.  She was very close to her grandchildren and enjoyed babysitting some or ALL of them over the weekends.  Dave and Pat enjoyed traveling; visiting California, Rome and Vatican City, Jerusalem, and they loved the Oregon Coast.  She and Dave took lessons and enjoyed dancing, and she enjoyed listening to any music that fit her fancy.
She is preceded in death by her loving spouse, David, daughter, Stephanie Swaja, grandson, George Sohler, her parents and six siblings.
She is survived by five children and their spouses, Susan and Mark Sohler of Forest Grove, Christopher and Pamela Swaja of Hillsboro, Sharon and Walter Meeuwsen of Banks, Randolph and Trina Swaja of Rogue River, OR, Michael Swaja of Washington, a brother, William Cannard of Eugene, OR, sixteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.