Obituary of Judy Sawler

Judith Lynn (Swan) Sawler

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mom Judy on January 9, 2021.   Born February 14, 1944 in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, she was the sweetheart and forever Valentine of her parents, Jim and Mina Swan (deceased). Judy grew up in Dartmouth, and was big sister to her late brothers, Richard and Rayne Swan.  She described idyllic childhood summers spent at her beloved Brule Point, in the company of aunts and uncles, playing with cousins in her playhouse, on the beach, at the farm, in the Millbrook, and “up street” in Tatamagouche.    At 17, she married her sweetheart Aubrey Sawler (deceased), and their 57 years of marriage was filled with the perfect amount of love, friends and family, adventures, happiness, accomplishments, and challenges.  She was proud mom to Teri Lee Sawler (deceased), Debbie Code (Stephen) and Krista Witherspoon (Terry) and dedicated Omie to Josh, Cory, Madison and Mikayla - her four treasures.  Her heart was full when she became GG to George (Cory and Raichel). 

In 1963, mom and dad made their home in Ontario, and mom was young, homesick, and fearless.   She created a solid network of forever friends and family, in part through her places of work (Tim Horton’s, Mac’s Milk, Ministry of Agriculture, Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy), volunteer work (Bowmanville Hospital, New to You, Rotary events), worship (Trinity United) and play (Coffee and Lunch Crews).  She was generous with her time and gifts for those lonely, or in need.  She loved so many things - dancing (always like no one was watching), the Saturday night hootenanny, coffee meet-ups at the Shell, cruising Alaska, fried clams at John’s Lunch and the Pleasant Street Diner, lobster, Ireland, Elvis, CNN, forensic shows, logic puzzles, Christmas Eve, her photo album gallery, making donuts, sunsets at the Point, bingo in Wentworth, visits to the Lollipop, pets Molly and Chester, and the beer gardens in John’s Pass Village. 

Mom was an amazing woman who played a significant role in the lives of so many, and will be missed fiercely by her immediate family, sisters-in-law Marilyn Swan (Andrew and David) and Joan Brumm (David and Donnie), Uncle George, nephews, nieces, and countless special cousins and friends.

As per mom’s wishes, there will be no visitation or service.  Donations can be made in her memory to Hope for Wildlife, Lockerby Cemetery Fund in Tatamagouche, or the Bowmanville Rotary Club.

I want to age like sea glass.  I want to enjoy the journey and let my preciousness be, not in spite of the impacts of life, but because of them – Bernadette Noll