Kathy Ann Swenson

Kathleen Ann Swenson, of Carrollwood, Florida, passed away at the age of 61 from stage 4 colon cancer on July 11, 2022. She was born in St. Petersburg, FL to Allen Wilson and Barbara (Carey) Wilson. Kathy was united in marriage to Jeffery T. Swenson on December 24, 1992. Kathy was a beloved wife, mother, yaya and a champion for autistic and special needs children and their families. Out of a need for a school to help her own daughter, she created Sydney’s School for autism. Over the 10 years she ran and fundraised for Sydney’s School she helped countless numbers of families in Hillsborough County community. She gave a home and a safe and loving learning environment to children that the public school system was not equipped to handle at the time. She believed that sometimes life shows you your purpose and hers was to help families with children on the spectrum.

Even after she closed her school, she continued to be a dedicated volunteer for Focus Academy where her daughter attended her middle and high school education. She later became a full-time fundraiser for the Focus Foundation chairing numerus fundraising events to benefit the school and their transition program focused on giving students community-based workplace internship opportunities. Even in her passing Kathy still believed in giving back and putting others first.

In lieu of flowers, she asks that you donate in her memory to the Project Focus Foundation at the link below.

https://www.projectfocususa.org/donate

Kathy is survived by her husband, Jeffery T. Swenson; mother, Barbara Lavin; daughters, Melissa Brown and her husband Douglas Brown, Sydney Swenson; sons, Grant Swenson, Troy Madden and his wife Valerie D’Iganizo Madden; grandchildren, Harlowe Brown and Harriet Brown; sister, Tina Mull; brother, Allen Wilson; nephews, Jason Batterton and Allen Wilson Jr. along with many loving friends.

She is preceded in death by her father, Allen Wilson; grandparents, Dorothy Suarez and John “Jack” Wilson.

A Celebration of Kathy's life will take place at 2pm on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at Blount and Curry Carrollwood located at 3207 West Bearss Ave. Tampa, FL. 33618.

Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service as well as after the service where guests will be encouraged to share their memories of Kathy in a video keepsake for the family.

Kathy will be laid to rest at All Faiths Memorial Park in Casselberry, FL. with a private family ceremony.