Della Swarbrick

Della Irene Swarbrick  

A beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend.

Our precious mother, Della Irene Swarbrick (nee Jennings), passed away in Sudbury, Ontario, on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Mom was a beautiful, kind, and hard-working woman. She loved and was loved by many.

Mom was born in Timmins, Ontario, on March 7, 1942, to Raymond and Beatrice Jennings (both predeceased). She settled in Sudbury more than 60 years ago following her marriage to our father and the love of her life, Clarence Swarbrick (predeceased 2002).

Together, Mom and Dad created a loving home where they welcomed and raised five children: Cheryl, Raymond, Kellie, Kari, and Sandi. Mom devoted her life to caring for her family, including her cherished grandchildren, Connor Bradley, Reilly Tremblay, and Kieran Bradley. She was mother-in-law to Lee Tremblay, Shawn Bradley, and Carmen Van Empel. 

Mom will be deeply missed by her dear friend of more than 60 years, Jeannine “Ninny” Toppazzini (husband Ron). Their friendship was unconditional and supportive. Mom was incredibly grateful to have had Ninny’s support following the death of our father. The two friends would often spend countless hours talking, laughing, and of course, planning their next adventure.   

Predeceased by her brothers Patrick Jennings and Joseph Fraser, Mom is survived by her sisters Donna Torlone (Ed) and Kay Crisante (Joe). Also left to mourn are many nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbours.

In her youth, Mom was quite a gifted athlete. She was a competitive swimmer, and eventually, she trained to be a lifeguard. Mom was also a talented artist, cake decorator, and cook. Some were privileged to have had an “Original Della” mural on their wall. Others received one of the many cakes she made to celebrate weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. Many people were lucky to have enjoyed one of her delicious creations. Her spaghetti sauce was a hit with all her family members, many neighbours, and friends. She would often whip up a batch of sauce and share it around the neighbourhood. Her sauce was so enjoyed that it frequently made long-distance road trips to the homes of family and friends out of town.  

Mom was a woman of great faith, which helped her through many of life’s challenges, not the least of which included her loss of vision in recent years. She was a devoted and active parishioner at Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church for more than 50 years. When called upon, Mom would always volunteer her time to help with special church events.

Mom was fortunate to have had opportunities to travel. She took many memorable trips during her life, including visiting Hawaii, Ireland, Cuba, and Italy, where she received a papal blessing.

Mom, you will always be in our hearts. We will love you forever.

Following her cremation at Simple Wishes of the North, Mom will be laid to rest with our father at the Civic Memorial Cemetery, Sudbury, Ontario. A graveside service will take place in mid-September.

If you wish, you can donate in Mom’s memory to Canadian Blood Services, the Blue Door Soup Kitchen in Sudbury, Ontario or to Orbis Canada to support their efforts to eliminate blindness.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Della Swarbrick, please visit our Tree Store.