Nevada A. Swailes, age 75, died at her residence, 55 Circuit Road, Waterford, PA on Sunday evening after a short illness. Born in Erie, PA on October 17, 1932, she was a daughter of the late Jacob Hansen and Anna Januszek Hansen. On November 13, 1954 she married Walter John Swailes and he survives.Nevada A. Swailes

Nevada graduated from Strong Vincent High School in Erie in 1950 and served in the US Naval Reserves from 1951 until 1955. In 1953 and 1954 she served as supply officer with the US Navy Photo Lab at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, VA. Nevada was a charter member of the Women in Military, an auxiliary support group based in Washington, DC. She enjoyed attending the Senior Citizens Center in Waterford. An avid reader, she also enjoyed knitting, giving away her many completed works to family and friends.

Surviving family members include her beloved husband, Walter, of 53 years and a daughter, Karyn Brown; a sister – Geraldine Denny of California; a sister-in-law -Roberta Hansen of Akron, OH; an aunt – Mary Zoltowski of Waterford; and numerous nieces and nephews including – Joseph Hansen and Janet Hansen, both of Erie. Preceding Nevada in death was a son – Sean Matthew Swailes who died in 1993; a sister – Bonnie Hansen; two brothers – Joseph Hansen and Edwin Hansen; and a sister-in-law – Grace Hansen.

A graveside funeral service will be held at Waterford Cemetery on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. with Monsignor Lawrence Speice, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, in Cambridge Springs officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Van Matre Funeral Home in Waterford.