Sister Pauline Marie Swint, R.S.M.

Sister Pauline Marie Swint (formerly Sister Mary Urban) passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 4 at St. Bernardine Home in Fremont, Ohio.  A Sister of Mercy for 76 years, she was 94 years old. 

A native of Fremont, she was the only daughter of Urban and Anna Colletta (Schmitz) Swint. They preceded her in death as did her five brothers:  Robert, Richard, Gerald, Anthony, and Louis. She is survived by her community of Sisters of Mercy and many nieces and nephews.

 When her mother passed away, she left ten-year-old Pauline the responsibilities of motherhood and only woman of the home.  Her father was the groundskeeper of Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center and the family lived on the property, introducing Pauline to the Sisters of Mercy at a very early age.  She attended St. Joseph elementary and high schools.  She later earned a Bachelor’s degree in education from the Athenaeum in Cincinnati and a Master's from Marygrove College in Detroit.

Besides her ministries, her most favorite thing in the world was Notre Dame football. She traveled to South Bend a number of times for home games no matter the weather.  She never missed a televised game. Friends knew not to call her at game time - she wouldn’t take the call! She corresponded with NDU coach Lou Holtz and received various memorabilia from him and team members.

Her ministry life could be likened to a football game with its four quarters, beginning with her 18 years as an elementary teacher of children in every grade from 2-8. Recess and lunch time found her joining in all the playground games being both player and referee and at times penalty giver.

Things necessarily were more serious in the 13 years of the second quarter when she became principal. Strict as she was, she loved the children and always helped them turn their fumbles into extra points.  She served in parish schools mainly in Toledo at Saint Catherine's, Saint Clement’s, and St. Vincent de Paul.

The third quarter, even though brief, was a successful punt to a new ministry in pastoral care at St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima where she endeared herself to hospital patients by taking time to hear their stories and learn of their cares.

In the fourth quarter she found herself in what she may have thought was her end zone as it brought her full circle back to Our Lady of the Pines where she was the plant manager and involved in the administrative duties of the retreat center.

 Her final additions to the scoreboard were in overtime when she moved across the yard to Saint Bernardine Home, the retirement center for Sisters of Mercy in northern Ohio.  It was overtime as she was not ready to retire but took on a number of assignments in the Home.  As time went on, though, she did weaken and gradually moved to using a walker and then a wheelchair.  This was a very difficult transition for her, realizing her goal line was now to accept the wisdom, rather than the loss of activities, that came with her age. Her legacy will live on through all she accomplished and the lives she touched.

Visitation will be from 1:00-3:00P.M. on Sunday, May 9, 2021 at the Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home, 900 North Street, Fremont, Ohio masks are required for entry and social distancing measures will be in place. A private funeral Mass and burial will be held for the Sisters and family on a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bernardine Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hermanfh.com