Judith Swanson, 65; battled cancer with husband

Both Judy and Eric Swanson, married 38 years, had cancer. ''They were pretty much inseparable,'' said their pastor. (WWW.STEPHENPEISER.COM)

"This is the love story of two people in their battle with cancer. One passed away on 8/13/2008."

With these words, Eric Swanson announced the death of his wife of 38 years, Judith (Hall) Swanson.

Before Mrs. Swanson was diagnosed with neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer four years ago, she had provided tender care for her husband. In 2003, they had learned he had nasopharynx and neck cancer.

She helped him weather the chemotherapy, the radiation treatments, the feeding tube.

"Judy looked after me and did what had to be done," said Swanson, a certified financial planner in Melrose.

Then, with Eric in remission, it was his turn to care for her.

"Just as Judy had gotten me through my treatment, she was diagnosed with cancer," he said. "The endocrinologist told us it was treatable, but not curable."

Their world darkened. But their love for each other, their deep faith, their family and friends, many from Grace Chapel in Lexington, kept them going.

"They were pretty much inseparable," said the Rev. Richard Rhodes, a pastor at the chapel. "You would have a hard time picturing them apart. When each one went through their cancer, each supported the other with the love, hope, and belief they were going to overcome it."

They were not shy about putting their arms around one another, said the Rev. Cynthia Fantasia, another Grace Chapel pastor, who oversees women's groups.

"It reminded us that we should be more loving and expressive of that love."

Judith Harriet Hall was born in Decatur, Ga., to Eugene and Rhoda (Frye) Hall. Her father was an auditor and moved his family to Maryland and Texas before settling in Swampscott when Mrs. Hall was in the 10th grade.

Her Southern accent, charm, and hospitality captivated people she met, her husband said. After graduating from Swampscott High School, she went to secretarial school for about a year.

The Swansons met at a restaurant in Boston while he was working in the computer operations department of United Brands Co. and she was a secretary for General Electric Co. in Lynn. A divorced father of two, Swanson said his young children approved of her right away.

They were married in 1970, and they bought a carriage house in Melrose with a mother-in-law apartment. Their son, Todd of Manchester, N.H., was born in 1976.

Mrs. Swanson provided day care in their home while their son was growing up, and as he got older, she started a house-cleaning business to be at home when he returned from school.

When her cancer was diagnosed, the family was determined to defeat it, her husband said. They tried herbal and natural healing and a macrobiotic diet. She participated in clinical trials.

"We do believe in miracles," he said. "Our faith was not weakened."

During her illness, the Swansons tried to live as normally as possible, taking walks, working in their garden, going to movies and plays, and spending a month in Florida each year. They also remained active at church, accompanying hundreds of young people on field trips.

"Their investment in these kids was huge," Rhodes said.

"When I think of Judy, I do think of her faith. It gave her an anchor. When you saw Judy, you thought if anyone had a relationship with God, this person does. It was more than a set of beliefs but a relationship with Jesus Christ that was so vibrant, you could feel it."

Among the many Mrs. Swanson inspired was Angela Albano, who lives in their apartment building in Melrose.

"Judy and I had something in common," Albano said. "We both had cancer."

Shortly before Mrs. Swanson died at home at age 65, Albano and members of a prayer group prayed with her individually via speaker phone. She had been too ill to join them.

"I think that really helped her," Albano said. "Judy was a very brave woman and took one day at a time. She was a very good model."

In May, Mrs. Swanson told friends in an e-mail that her cancer had spread dramatically since October.

She wrote: "Courage is not the absence of fear; it is action in the presence of fear. God works through our faith, not our fear."

In addition to her husband and son, Mrs. Swanson leaves a stepson, Tracy of Venice City, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Kelly Hered of Pensacola, Fla.; a brother, Robert Hall of Marstons Mills; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Grace Chapel in Lexington.