1913
Anna
2006
Anna C. (Swett) Gorman
March 14, 1913 — January 1, 2006
UPTON - Anna C. (Swett) Gorman, 92, formerly of Upton, died Sunday, January 1, 2006, at Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Northbridge after a lengthy illness. She was the widow of Joseph W. Gorman, Sr., who died in December of 1972.
Mrs. Gorman was born in Worcester, a daughter of the late Jeremiah H. and Lillian M. (Lincoln) Swett, and attended Worcester schools, Rutland Hospital School of Nursing, and graduated from David Hale Fanning School of Nursing. She worked as an LPN at St. Vincent Hospital and was night supervisor at Shrewsbury Nursing Home for three years. In addition, she was a licensed insurance agent for Traveler's Insurance.
She was a clerk at the Upton Center Post Office for more than 30 years, serving as Acting Postmaster during World War II. She also served on the Upton Council on Aging; was a member of the Friends of Upton Elders, the Upton Democratic Town Committee, the Holy Angels Altar Sodality and Women's Guild, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Upton Woman's Club, and the Lady Foresters. She was always interested in youth activities and was one of the original organizers of the Teen Canteen in Upton.
She was elected State Senator for the First Worcester-Middlesex District of the Silver-Haired Legislature. The District served nine towns and four precincts in Worcester. Her term, from 1980 through 1983, won legislative approval and the signature of the Governor of Massachusetts for many bills involving the interests of senior citizens.
Although her family was first in her heart, she was also an avid traveler, touring five continents and the continental United States many times. In her younger years, Anna took flying lessons at Hopedale Airport and was a former ladies golf champion at Pine Ridge Country Club. Over the last 16 years, she divided her time between her home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Upton, returning to this area full-time in 1999. Reading was her passion and she loved music and taught herself to play the organ. Her other favorite past-times included playing cards, cooking for her family and friends, frequently hosting dinner parties, arranging silk flowers, and teaching line-dancing at the Upton Senior Center.
She leaves two sons, Joseph W. Gorman, Jr. and his wife Rita of Upton and Paul R. Gorman and his wife Mary of Acworth, GA; three daughters, Joan E. Varney and her husband Donald of Upton, Maureen E. Orr and her husband Frank of Columbus, GA, and Margaret R. Dean and her husband George "Pep" of New Smyrna Beach, FL; a sister, Louise Devine of Worcester; a sister-in-law, Evelyn "Pearl" Swett of Leicester; a brother-in-law, Harold Erickson of Millbury; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was also the grandmother of the late James M. Varney and the sister of the late Katherine "Dot" Erickson and William Swett.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of Upton Elders, One Centennial Court, or to the Upton Ambulance Fund, Box 29, both Upton, MA 01568.
at 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Church, 1 Milford Street, Upton.
Burial in Lakeview Cemetery, Upton.
Calling hours at the funeral home Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Mrs. Gorman was born in Worcester, a daughter of the late Jeremiah H. and Lillian M. (Lincoln) Swett, and attended Worcester schools, Rutland Hospital School of Nursing, and graduated from David Hale Fanning School of Nursing. She worked as an LPN at St. Vincent Hospital and was night supervisor at Shrewsbury Nursing Home for three years. In addition, she was a licensed insurance agent for Traveler's Insurance.
She was a clerk at the Upton Center Post Office for more than 30 years, serving as Acting Postmaster during World War II. She also served on the Upton Council on Aging; was a member of the Friends of Upton Elders, the Upton Democratic Town Committee, the Holy Angels Altar Sodality and Women's Guild, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Upton Woman's Club, and the Lady Foresters. She was always interested in youth activities and was one of the original organizers of the Teen Canteen in Upton.
She was elected State Senator for the First Worcester-Middlesex District of the Silver-Haired Legislature. The District served nine towns and four precincts in Worcester. Her term, from 1980 through 1983, won legislative approval and the signature of the Governor of Massachusetts for many bills involving the interests of senior citizens.
Although her family was first in her heart, she was also an avid traveler, touring five continents and the continental United States many times. In her younger years, Anna took flying lessons at Hopedale Airport and was a former ladies golf champion at Pine Ridge Country Club. Over the last 16 years, she divided her time between her home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Upton, returning to this area full-time in 1999. Reading was her passion and she loved music and taught herself to play the organ. Her other favorite past-times included playing cards, cooking for her family and friends, frequently hosting dinner parties, arranging silk flowers, and teaching line-dancing at the Upton Senior Center.
She leaves two sons, Joseph W. Gorman, Jr. and his wife Rita of Upton and Paul R. Gorman and his wife Mary of Acworth, GA; three daughters, Joan E. Varney and her husband Donald of Upton, Maureen E. Orr and her husband Frank of Columbus, GA, and Margaret R. Dean and her husband George "Pep" of New Smyrna Beach, FL; a sister, Louise Devine of Worcester; a sister-in-law, Evelyn "Pearl" Swett of Leicester; a brother-in-law, Harold Erickson of Millbury; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was also the grandmother of the late James M. Varney and the sister of the late Katherine "Dot" Erickson and William Swett.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of Upton Elders, One Centennial Court, or to the Upton Ambulance Fund, Box 29, both Upton, MA 01568.
Service Details
Funeral services Thursday, January 5, with a funeral massat 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Church, 1 Milford Street, Upton.
Burial in Lakeview Cemetery, Upton.
Calling hours at the funeral home Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.
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