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Lois A. Swallow, 101, on February 6, 2023

PLAINVILLE - Lois A. Swallow, 101, of Plainville, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023 at the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, RI after a short illness.

Born in North Attleboro, MA on April 15, 1921, she was the daughter of Earle A. Swallow Sr. and Agnes C. Johnson.

Lois was raised in North Attleboro, MA and attended the elementary school, where she excelled and skipped a grade, as well as the junior high school, and graduated from North Attleboro High School.  She attended Tuft's College and graduated in 1942.

Lois had many jobs growing up. She worked at Lake Pearl Park in the 1930's, during the summer months, where her family has a lake home. She worked at small manufacturing jobs around the area.   When she started college, she waitressed at Dunn's Restaurant (now Mick Morgan's) in Sharon, MA where she stayed until she graduated. After graduating from college she became employed by the United States Geological Survey, where she visited flood areas to study and determine the causes, and how to better prevent flooding in those areas in the future. It was a job primarily done by a man, and she took pride in telling people that she broke the glass ceiling by doing this as her profession. Her job took her all over the United States. In 1978, Lois retired from the government.

She had a great love for travel. She and her friends drove across the country when they graduated from college. As she grew older, she traveled with her parents to many parts of the United States, including Alaska, and Canada, experiencing small towns and larger cities alike. In 1969, she brought along her nephew and niece when she decided to drive across the country, for the 3rd or 4th time, to California and back, visiting national parks along the way. In 1971, she brought them to Alaska where they cruised among icebergs and whales.

She enjoyed cruising the Caribbean, Canada and the New England coastline. Lois sailed on the QE2 to England. She traveled around Europe and Scandinavia by train for nearly 3 weeks, before returning home again on the QE2. And she did this all alone while she was in her 80's!

Lois enjoyed her time as a snow-bird. The family built a home in Bradenton, FL in the 1970's.  After retiring, Lois totally adapted to driving from MA to FL to live the dream of being in the warm weather in the winter months. When the weather warmed up in Massachusetts, she would pack her bags, with her animals in tow, drive north and find her way to Plainville, and ultimately the lake house in Wrentham, her favorite place in the world. She did this all the way into her late 80's and early 90's.

During her time in MA and FL, Lois volunteered at the literacy centers to help people learn to read and write English. She tutored many people who came to America to live a better life. She was also a volunteer in the elementary schools in FL and helped many children with math and English as well.

She was an accomplished sewer, making many of her own clothes. In her free time she might hook rugs, knit or crochet, and in her 70's learned to weave fabric. She loved to bake goodies, and you could always find something good to eat at her house. She loved to play cards and games. She loved to dance and listen to music. Lois was an avid reader until she developed macular degeneration and slowly lost her sight. It was especially hard on her when she couldn't drive anymore.

She attended the Evangelical Covenant Church in Attleboro, MA and was a member of their women's group. Unfortunately, with the onset of Covid-19 things changed and Lois was unable to attend. She missed seeing her friends as she was very social.

Lois had many friends all around the world. She was always there to help or volunteer and will be remembered for all the things she accomplished. Lois will be greatly missed by her friends but even more by her family, especially her niece Leslie, whom she spent a lot of time with.

Lois is survived by her niece Leslie A. Peck and her husband, Steve, her great-nephew Stephen and her great-niece Jessica. She was predeceased by her brother Earle “Bud” Swallow and his wife Pat, and her nephew Allen.

A time for visitation will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, 15 Grove Street, North Attleboro. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 1:00 PM in the Evangelical Covenant Church, 841 North Main Street, Attleboro. Interment will follow the service in Plainville Cemetery, Plainville. Relatives and friends are most warmly invited to attend.