Helen Doherty Swinton

Helen Frances Doherty Swinton passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, April 7, 2010 in the hospital near Point Richmond California at the age of 91.

Helen was born October 2, 1918, daughter of John Joseph and Alice Elizabeth Fives Doherty of Rileyville. Survived by daughter Alice Genevieve and her husband Raymond Delrich of Point Richmond CA, son William Gerald ("Gerry") Swinton and his wife Alane of Santa Cruz CA, sisters Monica Doherty Vavricka of Bordontown NJ and Kathryn Doherty Lowe of West Richfield Ohio and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by brothers James J. and Robert Doherty, sisters Anne Doherty Murphy and Mary C. Doherty, and William Markham Swinton. An honor graduate of Honesdale Catholic High School 1936, Helen graduated from the Lennox Hill Hospital School of Nursing NYC in 1939, specializing in Obstetrics. Helen lived in New York City and Washington DC, and spent several years abroad in Caracas, Venezula. Before retirement, Helen lived in Bethesda Maryland, near her sister Mary, and worked as Delivery Room Supervisor at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington DC. Helen retired to a family cottage on Sideling Hill near Warsfordsburg, PA with her beloved black lab, Mike, where she enjoyed country life and the peaceful beauty of the Pennsylvania hills and woods. Most recently, Helen lived with Alice and Ray in Point Richmond, CA overlooking San Francisco Bay, enjoying walks with her dog, Ginger, boating with her children, gardening, church and bible classes. Helen had a love of family and faith, all things Irish, history, books, dogs, birds (especially "Old Crow"!), gardening, and God's great outdoors. She was well loved and will be missed by all of her family.

Helen's life was celebrated in a funeral mass on Wednesday morning, April 14, 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Point Richmond, CA, The Committal followed at St. Joseph's Cemetery in San Pablo, CA.