I love you because you understood me better than anyone I’ve ever known.  You saw me at my absolute worst both physically and emotionally and loved me in spite of it.  You made me happy and soothed away my cares with just a touch or a word.  I love you because we had so much fun together wherever we went and whatever we did.  You were supportive when I felt good about everything in my life and even more so when my self-esteem was low. I love the way you made me laugh when I needed it the most.  I love you because of the dreams we built together.  You were at my side when I felt proud and strong and you held me close and listened when I needed to be taken care of.  I love you because I was a better person with you by my side.  You gave my life a deeper meaning and purpose.  I love you because you were my world, you were my heart, you were my everything and that will never change.   I will love you forever.

Your loving wife,

Cecil, I know you are smiling from heaven everytime someone leaves you a note in your guestbook!  There is NO question you are a very loved man!

Paw-Paw
You inspired me everyday. I remember always spending weekends with you and Granny when I was younger and always going to sleep in your big t-shirts. You always made me smile and my friends thought the world of you. I will miss being able to hear you call my friends their new names that you gave them every time they walk though the door. Sally, Gertrude, and Maple all miss you very much. I will miss all the holidays and vacations we spent together. Your jokes will be missed very much even though they were always corny. Thank you for building me furniture and always putting a smile on my face. I cant wait to see you again. I love and miss you very much.

God just received a very good man by his side. No goodbyes because goodbye seems forever! Love you and miss you and we will reunite one day in God’s kingdom.   I looked up to you and I hope one day my life turns out the way you lived yours! Love you...

Cecil, you came into my life the day I was born, and for 31 years I’ve only known you as my uncle. Then you became my father in law. These past 18 years have been the most charitable memories of my life. Family vacations with you following in the van behind us, staying on my bumper so you wouldn’t lose me. It was fun watching everyone getting out of the van kissing the ground or holding their nose.  All those holidays we spent together.  I just want to thank you for being my kid’s paw-paw.  I think I have more pictures of you with them. And yes, you were like my father in so many ways. You filled a big void in my life after my father passed. I can never begin to thank you. I am so glad you became my father in law because in those 18 years, you became my good friend we did so much together. So I will miss you for now, because I know you’ll be waiting with open arms when I get there.  
Love You John

I love and miss you forever!!!

eye <3 u!

Just wanted you to know I will carry on your joke telling :-)
Paw Paw,
Knock Knock
(Who's There?)
Interrupting Cow
(Interrupting ...)
Cow!

Love You!

Cecil my house will never be the same without you.  I will miss your whistle when you walk in the door.  Family vacations will never be the same.  I am so glad we shared so many with you.  Christmas and other holidays will be empty without you there, but I know you are always close.  Thank you for all you did for us.  Miss you.

I don't really know where to begin.  You are missed every day and I am so very thankful for the time we all had with you.  I will always have such wonderful memories of you.  I know I will never be able to hear a joke, play Bingo, watch Wheel of Fortune and Price is Right or hear an Elvis song without thinking of you.  I regret the years I was gone and am so very glad that I was able to spend the last year with you. Thank You for always being there for the three of us and treating us as though we were your own children and thank you for the happiness you brought mom.  I am comforted in knowing you are in a much better place and know that we will meet again one day.  Give Matthew a big kiss from Mommy and know you are will always be in my thoughts, my prayers and my heart.  I Love You!

Paw-paw I will miss you.  I learned a lot from you: like my religion, magic tricks, to always believe in God and to never give up.  I also learned from you that life was sometimes hard, but to keep my head up and go forward.  I will always remember helping you at church.  I love you and miss you.

Cecil Leonard Swanson, Jr., was born December 5, 1939.  He was born in the house of a midwife, one block off Elysian Fields Avenue, in New Orleans.  When my dad was seventeen, his father passed away.  I believe this event is what made my dad the loving and understanding parent and man he was.   
He married in 1959 and started a family. He started working for the Times Picayune and then had, Suzzan, myself, and Stephanie.  My dad did not make a lot of money, and we did not take extravagant vacations.  But, for every dollar we did not have, my dad gave to us in love.  Our home was blessed by not having a lot of money.  We had each other, great stories of growing up-that we still share, and plenty of time for what my dad gave us, we were rich with each other’s love. My dad and mom put us all through St. Mary Magdalen Catholic grammar school; when it was not easy and times were not just tough, but, hard.
My dad was usually seen as a calm person, and he was.  But, he took great pride in the way his kids presented themselves.  He was a calming dad, but, did have the occasional moment when he had to raise his voice, and come down hard on us.  On those rare moments he got so mad, he would call all of us by name. As the Swanson child that created most of his angst, he would always use my name first and you would hear the following “Steven, Stephanie, and Stuzzan, get in here.”  Yes, just like that; and it is funny now.  But, on the only occasion I ever asked him who Stuzzan was, it was not funny to him, nor me, for quite a while.
In 1989, my dad met Patricia Adams.  After encouragement from her daughters to “just go get a free meal”, they dated and eventually married.  Immediately my dad considered Karen, Kim and Kelly his daughters. He enjoyed each of them as much as he loved his own children.  Throughout the years, my dad and Patricia were blessed with eleven grandchildren.  He enjoyed them beyond what I can say.  Telling them corny jokes, showing them magic tricks, going to every birthday party and school grandparent’s days.  The kids loved that my dad was an expert at claw machines and he loved giving them the toys and seeing their faces light up.  He played on almost every machine he passed.  In addition to kids, the marriage also produced four pets, Mickey the cat, Joe, Jacque, and Katie, the dogs.  Jacque was my dad’s shadow.  Jacque would jump in my dad’s lap before my dad’s head hit the back of the recliner.  Jacque was truly man’s best friend to the very end.
My dad’s love for his family can be found in many ways.  But, one of the sweetest and quietest was the holding of small babies.  He adored holding them, most of you.  Holding all of us was relaxing for him.  He was the go to person when your parents needed a break.  Those here today, would you please raise your arm if you believe my dad might have held you.  You were very safe in his loving arms.
I have heard the following comments from people lately:  “He loved me for me, for who I was; My dad should have taken lessons from your dad; You are so lucky to have had him for your dad.”  All of us are lucky to have had my dad. 
Our dad, for all the time we had him, he always had our back.  I was once accused of stealing five dollars of gas at a convenience store.  A phone call from the sheriff’s office to my mom and dad letting them know what had happened.  My dad went straight to the store and to hear the story, he almost went over the counter at the clerk.  Even without talking to me about it, he knew I did not do what I was accused of.  He knew.  He had my back.  Sue was in a bad car accident at eighteen, he stood vigil with her until she was released.  He had her back.  When Stephanie was born she was very premature.   My dad would tell that story (through tears in his eyes) of when he had to carry her home from the hospital-in a container the size of a cigar box.  Our dad again, had our back.  Kelly, one of Patricia’s daughters, told me that my dad would put gas in her car for her.  But, he would never move the mirror or seat settings when he got in.  He would go put gas in her car, squeeze his five foot ten inches into her car to help her out.  He had Kelly’s back.
 And, there are many stories of many people in this room that I can put in here, because, he always felt the need to take care of his family; he always had your back.  And still does.
My dad was also a great humanitarian.  As a founding, and lifetime member of Clearview Lions Club, he enjoyed helping other families.  He worked bingos, shook cans in intersections, worked telethons, sold New Orleans Saints game programs, New Orleans Jazz tickets, and participated many other types of events-every time he was asked- simply to help those needing assistance in acquiring eye glasses, a seeing eye dog, hearing aids, a wheelchair, or to even help to send a child to the Louisiana Lions Camp for Children. He went the extra mile to ensure that he got a special needs child into that camp.   He never had a weekly dart game, did not play golf, and did not fish.  My dad lived the Lions motto “We Serve”, and he did it well.
He also had great pleasure in being a member of St Anselm’s Church, St Joseph Altar Society.  He enjoyed the other members company, the reason they were there, and most importantly being the baker for the group.  In 2011, my dad baked 56,832 cookies; yes, he kept track.  Over the last twelve years he has baked seven hundred thousand cookies to be put on their altar.  He and Patricia greatly enjoyed being a part of this together.
Please let me take the time to thank Rochelle, Jeff, Jim, John, Brett, and Scott, my dad’s daughter-in-law and sons-in-law for letting us spend so much time with our dad.  Thanks for being there when we needed you most.
Stephanie, I cannot even begin to tell you here how much your efforts during the last year have comforted and prepared dad for his path to heaven.  All the chemo trips, taking care of Jacque, answering the medical questions, all the lunches after the chemo, and even Talking Carl, your efforts made it easier on dad, Patricia, all of us; you have laid the cornerstone for your path to heaven.  Thank you.  And, of course, Patricia, thanks for the comfort, passion, love, understanding, and faith you gave my dad.  I don’t often express my most sincere feelings in public.  Please just accept them.
In no way would I ever be able to say each name of everyone that called my dad, went to his house to say hi, sent cards, and especially the prayers sent his way.  So thanks to all of you, also. 
I would like to end this eulogy the way my dad might have…….
Two young boys were misbehaving at home.  The momma said to them, “Boys, y’all stop it right now!”  But, they didn’t.  So, she told them, “Go to the church and see the priest.”  And, off to the rectory they went.  The boys knocked on the rectory door.  The priest opened the door and said, “How can I help you?”  The boys said, “We were being bad in our backyard and our momma said we have to come talk to you.”  The priest said to the youngest boy, “Have a seat outside my office door.”  He turned to the oldest boy and said, “Come in and sit down here.”  The boy looked wide-eyed at the priest.  The priest asked, “Where is Jesus?”  The boy was silent.  The priest asked again, “Boy, where is Jesus?”  Still, no reply.  The priest asked one last time, firmly and loudly, while pointing his finger at the boy, “WHERE IS JESUS?”  The boy darted out of the office, grabbed his little brother by the hand, and took off down the street.  Running and running, the little brother asked, as he breathed heavily, “Why are we running from the priest?”  The older brother told him, “Because the priest thinks we stole Jesus!”
Lastly, in the words my Dad would have chosen…
Thank y’all for coming……GAWD bless all of ya.

When you were first diagnosed, I asked myself a million times whether or not it was better to know death was nearing or not to know.  It was not until after we laid you to rest that I could answer that question.  The pain of knowing and waiting was hard to cope with.  I wondered with each goodbye if it would be our last.  I hated watching you hurt.  But somehow with your passing I am comforted - comforted in knowing how much we all meant to you and comforted in knowing that you knew exactly how much you meant to me.  I am so thankful for every hug, every kiss, and every “I love you.” God has blessed us!
I love and miss you.

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT

The Lord, my Abba, is my light,
He guards me with all his might.
He offers me his loving hands,
and unto me reveals his plans.
He lights up my sky,
and makes me feel like I can fly.
His lamp will guide me through my life,
and help me to avoid all strife.

In my heart forever, Paw-Paw!
Love always,
Jamie Defourneaux
(Sunshine)

“As many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them.”  Galatians 6:16
Good afternoon,
Michelangelo wrote a note to his apprentice.  The great artist wrote “Draw, Antonio, draw, and do not waste time.”  That was well founded urgency.
If you knew my Dad, he didn’t move with great urgency.  Dad moved more quietly and peacefully.  I would like to think my Dad’s note would have said… “Love, Cecil, love, and do not waste time.”, because one thing Dad did do with urgency is love.  He loved as a husband to his wife, Betty, and their three children, me, Steven, and Stephanie; to his wife, Patricia and their three children, Karen, Kim, and Kelly; to his grandchildren, Steven, Jamie, Madison and Melanie, Michael, Jessica, and Jonathan, Rebecca and William, Logan, Lilly, and Heather; and as a father-in-law to Jimmy, Rochelle, Jeff, John, Scott, and Brett.  And I cannot leave out Dad’s constant companions, Katie and Jacque (no-lick)!
Dad was an entertainer, a magician ready with a magic trick for the kids (who here can say they have witnessed a magic trick by Dad?), a joke teller, mostly corny jokes and you heard the same jokes over and over again.  (I always laughed at his jokes and he loved me for that!!!)  He loved to draw.  He was a great listener, a fan of Elvis Presley, an LSU tiger fan, a Times-Picayune pressman for 42 years, a charter member of the Clearview Lions Club (as a young man of thirty-three years old, when most of the Lion’s Club members were much older men!), a school bus driver for every St. Mary Magdalen sporting event (I volunteered him for that!) 
He was a volunteer at St. Alselm Catholic Church (he loved to tell everyone how he learned to make Italian cookies for the St. Joseph’s Altar. This past year, even while undergoing treatment, all 56,000 Italian cookies passed through his hands into and out of the oven.)  He loved to laugh and (especially in his later years), he was quick to show his emotions and cry!!!  Sometimes for seemingly no reason!!! He gave the best hugs!  Dad was not much the disciplinarian in our family… he was usually the softie, but his expectations of us were high.  
Dad taught us by example about love and he expected us to be respectful of ourselves and others.  He taught us how important it is to work hard; to make an honest living for your family, that time does heal wounds, to play fair, to be proud of your family, that we could weather any storm as long as we stayed together as a family, and to have faith in God.
Dad loved others as a son, a brother, a brother-in-law, an uncle, a husband, a dad, a father-in-law, a paw-paw, a Lion, a friend, a volunteer, and as a loyal servant of his Catholic faith.
Dad loved all with urgency!  
To somewhat quote Elvis… he “Loved Us Tender, he Loved Us True”
Godspeed, our sweet Daddy, until we meet again!

Cecil Leonard Swanson, Jr.
12-5-2011 ~ 07-24-2011

Mr. Cecil was one of the nicest people I ever knew!  He is so very much a part of my childhood memories!!! The good ones!!  Even though we lost touch after I was grown, I will always remember him as a wonderful man! Always had a smile on his face and a magic trick up his sleeve for all of the kids in the neighborhood!! Rest in Peace, Mr. Cecil.  I love you.  Always, Cherry

Dear Patricia and Family, 
May the Lord bring you peace and comfort.  Mr. Cecil was a faithful man.  May he rest in the eternal light of our Lord in Heaven. We send our thoughts and prayers.  
In Christ, 
Melanie and Gary Arnold

Today Uncle Cecil .. You were put to rest .. the ONLY thing that helps me get through this is I KNOW you are Dancing with the Angels, Singing with Elvis, and showing HOUDINI just how those magic tricks actually go !!! .. but MOST IMPORTANT of all playing with Baby Swanson now .. and Embracing your Mom and Dad .. YOU are in my heart FOREVER .. until we shall meet again .. I Love you Uncle Seal ..

Dear Patricia and family, I am so sorry for your loss.  I will miss Cecil's joke every morning when I arrive at the St. Joseph's Altar to bake cookies.  He always told me a joke.  He was a wonderful man and will be missed by all.  Sorry I could not be there for the funeral.

Gods speed Mr Swanson. I will always have great memories of the times our families spent together; from you teaching me to drive to the many summers our family spent at your cabin. 

You will be missed

Patricia and family, I pray that our Heavenly Father will help you at this time of loss.  I know Cecil is enjoying Heaven now, and I am so glad I got to know and work with him on the St. Joseph Altar at St. Anselm.  I am truly blessed to have known him for such a short time.  Know that you and your family will be remembered in my prayers at this time.

Stephanie and Family - We are so blessed to have known Mr. Cecil.  He was a sweet man. You all are in our prayers!

Stephanie and family---our thoughts and prayers are with you.  Cherish the memories.

Steve and family, I pray that God will grant you His peace that passes all understanding. Consider yourself hugged.

Cecil, you will be forever remembered, I knew from the first time Pat and I met you, that you were the one for her. You have brought her so much happinest. Everytime I look at a sunflower, I get a smile on my face. Pat and family, Eddie and I sent you our deepest sympathy. Cecil, I know you are looking down at us from heaven and will take good care of Pat.
Gerri and Eddie Bergeron

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

You were so blessed to be surrounded by your loving family and friends and I am blessed to have known you.

My sincere condolences.  Cecil worked at Christwood with me. Although I knew him from church through you Patricia, I never really knew him until he joined Christwood.  He was wonderful to all the residents he assisted.  He helped them with their groceries and helped them to their seats.  He was very gracious and kind.  Life without Cecil is going to be very different and we shall miss his presence.

Patricia - My deepest condolences to you and Cecil's entire family.  I know he will be greatly missed because he was surely deeply loved by all of you.  He is at peace now. God is good.

May you all find that the memories you will cherish forever comfort you in your loss.

To the family of my cousin, Cecil, my deepest sympathy. I am the youngest daughter of Milton and Hazel Miller. My father owned Miller Electric Works. Cecil was a very kind and loving man, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Marlene & Hazel

Mr. Cecil you are an amazing Godly man and you have have touched so many. "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:23 NIV)  This verse describes everything about you.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.  KNOW THAT GOD IS WITH YOU AND WILL KEEP YOU STRONG.
MARY AND DOOKIE DAUPHIN

My condolences too the family.My memories of Cecil are are nothing but good.He treated me like i was a brother.

Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

Your legacy lives in the amazing  children you have raised.  Rest in peace, Mr. Cecil.

OBITUARY

Cecil Leonard Swanson Jr.

5 December, 1939 – 24 July, 2011

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