Obituary of Deborah Swanson

Deborah Cole Swanson

“To everything there is a season, a time, and a purpose”

A bright light left the world on December 27, 2024. Deborah Cole Swanson was born on February 16,1948 in Brockton, MA to Ruth E. Cole Swanson and Lloyd Swanson. She was a proud graduate of Brockton High School, class secretary, and a member of the reunion committee throughout her life. Deborah found her true passion in plants and gardening and graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in Plant & Soil Science in 1970. Ever a student, she spent her entire career with the University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension Service in several offices including Waltham Field Station and Suffolk County where she helped organized community gardens in Roxbury.

The bulk of her career was with Plymouth County Extension Service in Hanson where she also resided and continued to work with the landscape and nursery program through UMASS Amherst. She also supported the 4H Youth Programs with her colleagues. She helped coordinate Small Farms Day to assist folks starting backyard farms in Plymouth County.

Deborah was incredibly passionate about all aspects of plants, teaching everyone around her how to care for plants, trees, gardens and lawns. From a very early age, she could be found in the garden, watering can in hand! Her mother kept a photo of 18-month-old Deborah holding a trowel and watering can at our beloved beach cottage in Rocky Nook, Kingston, MA, starting her career and future almost before she could talk.

She was an expert in her craft and she loved sharing her horticulture information often done via slideshows which were both educational and fun. She would often end her presentations with a spectacular image of Paradise wildflower meadow at the base of Mount Rainer National Park showing 100 species of flowers all by nature’s hand alone.

She loved helping people navigate garden issues involving both plant and insect concerns and when Lyme disease became prevalent in Duxbury, she helped arrange community meetings with experts to help the residents minimize the risk of Lyme disease. She continued to warn anyone working outside of tick-borne diseases concerns.

Deborah was highly respected in the industry and was nominated and elected as the third woman in The Horticultural club of Boston and became the first woman President of the club. She loved bringing her husband Wesley to tagalong to the Club’s annual garden tours. She was also a member of the Massachusetts Agricultural club, again, as one of the first women elected members.

She also received a Silver Medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for her contributions to excellence in horticulture for the public good.

Deborah loved the beach and could be found looking for beauty in flowers, shells, and sea glass at Rocky Nook, Duxbury, the Oregon Coast, Sanibel Island, and San Diego or really any beach she encountered.

She had a great sense of humor and could make anyone laugh. She could sing beautifully but, didn’t share it often. She was always curious about others, even her care team at MGH, who listened and always learned some new information from Deborah. She bonded with her MGH Oncologist as he was a weekend farmer. Deborah routinely brought candy treats to her cancer treatment visits, so the staff often lite up a little when she visited. She had excellent care from her primary nurse Tim who really tried to make Deborah’s visit more tolerable. It was much appreciated.

She loved her family so very much and this was reciprocal. Her families all have gardens with her stamp of approval on them, a wonderful legacy of her work.

Deborah is survived by her husband of 43 years, Wesley Brooks of Hanson, sister Pamela D’Alessandro and husband, Tom, of Kingston, nieces Stacy Crotty (Brendan) of Kingston, Sherri Schuler (Rob) of Hanover, and nephew Brett Williams of Kingston. Brother in law, Craig Brooks (Laurie) of Ketchum, ID., Bruce Brooks (Sally) of Cottage Grove, OR.,  and Paula Brooks (Terry) of Pendleton, OR.  nieces Kristine Walker, Rebekah Brooks, and Nephews Jeremiah and Andy Brooks of Eugene and Cottage Grove, OR.

She was also the best great aunt to many grand nieces and nephews both in MA and OR.

Her great niece Samantha wrote a beautiful poem and shared it with Deborah shortly before she passed: “When it’s time to fly, you go up high. You feel no more pain, no more suffering. Just the feeling of light upon your soul. Then you become something new, maybe a small bird, a hummingbird. And when I see a hummingbird, I’ll know it is you, forever loved, and I know to think of you.”

We are already seeing her around in visitors in the form of hawks, cardinals, hummingbirds, and bald eagles. The world is a better place because of you, dear Deborah, and you will be so missed.

Services will be held at Sheperd Funeral Home in Kingston, MA. Calling hours will take place on Saturday, January 4^th from 2-6pm and a Memorial Service on Sunday January 5^th from 1-2pm.

If you would like to make gifts in memory of Deborah, please send to:

Massachusetts General Hospital in support of Gastric/Esophageal Cancer Research fund 234806, Dr. Sam Klempner, MD

Make a Tribute:
Mail: Megan Coons
MGH Development Office
125 Nashua St.
Suite 540
Boston, MA 02114

Online: www.Giving.MassGeneral.org Make a Tribute to the

Gastric/Esophageal Research Fund, 234806, Dr. Sam Klempner, MD