Anna Mae Swartz

Of Mt Morris. Anna Mae was guided by God's loving hand through life and death. It was a joyful and blessed journey of over 99 years. She died Thursday, March 9, at 9:30 a.m. in the caring home of her daughter, Roseann and Leonard Parsons, in Ashland, Ohio. The funeral service will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Resilient Hope Church in Mt Morris, Rev. Ron Swartz, her nephew, to officiate. Anna Mae's family will be present to receive friends at Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services, in Mt Morris, on Friday, March 17, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and again on Saturday from 10:15 until the time of service at 11:00 am. There will be a private burial service. Memorial contributions may be directed to Kindred Spirit, 2320 W. Dodge Rd., Clio, Michigan 48420. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Anna Mae’s tribute wall at martinfuneralhome.com.

Anna Mae was born on Christmas Day, 1924, in Pigeon, Michigan, the daughter of Jesse and Agnes (Gunden) Byler. She was raised on a farm and nurtured in a loving faith community. Anna Mae and Raymond J. Swartz were united in marriage on December 25, 1948, in Pigeon, Michigan. Early in their marriage, the couple moved to Mt Morris to start an urban mission church and made it their lifelong home. Through the years, Anna Mae enjoyed many vocations: nurse, pastor's wife, mother of 11, bible teacher, writer, tele-counselor, spiritual friend and mentor, but, first and foremost, a disciple of Jesus Christ. In her lifetime, she was a determined advocate and friend for the poor, lonely, and marginalized. She never retired from serving, but contentedly lived her faith, sharing God's grace, love, and compassion with everyone she met. Her door was always open to visitors, and she loved cooking meals for her "company." Anna Mae was a prayer warrior, and not just for people she knew. She tied and prayed over hundreds of colorful prayer blankets for patients at Genesys hospital. Born with a green thumb, her flower beds, bee hives, fruit, and vegetable gardens overflowing, she always sent visitors home with something delicious. Humble, unassuming, and grace-filled, Anna Mae believed the best way to help others was to tell them about Jesus and show them his love.

Left to cherish Anna Mae’s memory are her nine children: Lois Jean (Marcos) Orozco, Joseph Jesse (Kathy) Swartz, Ray Douglas (Pam) Swartz, Jewel Marie (Bruce) Martin, Stephen Paul (Phyllis) Swartz, Roseann Agnes (Leonard) Parsons, Mark Andrew (Mary) Swartz, Matthew Alan (Veia) Swartz, Timothy James (Diane) Swartz; two loving foster children: Lori Ann Hamel and Dorell Coates; 21 beloved grandchildren; 24 beautiful great-grandchildren; and two siblings: Alice Sauder and Arlene Gingerich.

Anna Mae was preceded in death by Raymond, her husband of 64 years (2012); her parents; one brother and five sisters.