Obituary of Gail Margaret Swaniga

Gail passed away peacefully in her sleep due to heart complications at Louise Marshall Hospital on Friday, August 11, 2023, at the age of 80 years old.

Gail is survived by her loving daughter Tana (Rocky) Nash, granddaughter Tate Brezina and her father Greg Brezina, her sister Helen Dodson, her brothers-in-law Reto (Sheila) and Harold (Stephanie) Swaniga, the Lawrence family, her nieces and nephews and many childhood friends.

Predeceased by the love of her life Doug of 55 years, her youngest daughter Erin, her brother Harry Frank, nephew Larry Frank and her parents Cecil and Lydia Frank.

Gail relished in her role as the public-school secretary at Central Public School in Cambridge for 35 years. Always organizing events in her own life, Central was no exception organizing the annual fun fair, volunteer tea, sewing costumes for plays, participating in Halloween dress up and teaching the kids how to skip double Dutch.

Her retirement celebration was one for the ages complete with a full student assembly and an evening celebration featuring her signature “g” adorning the gym and speaks to the respect and affection her many principals, teachers, children, parents, and fellow co-secretaries had for her. 

An avid baker, but not eater!, her annual Christmas bake sale featured over 100 dozen peanut butter balls and shortbread and twenty other kinds of squares, cookies, and her famous Christmas cake. Who didn’t love eating her peanut butter balls? When Gail and Doug retired to Pike Lake she continued to bake for neighbours and employees offering up her specialty cheese tea biscuits and muffins.

Gail donated her time to many causes. She canvassed for Heart and Stroke for over twenty years, was the secretary of the Preston Jesters hockey team, volunteered for the Preston Figure Skating Club and Suicide Prevention Councils in Wellington and Waterloo Regions and was an avid walker, raising money and walking in the 60km walk for breast cancer four times - three times in her sixties! 

Gail was a lover of the beach and spent many happy summers at their trailer in Port Elgin. When the trailer was sold a tent trailer was purchased and she had many camping trips with Doug and her girls. Her love of the beach continued when Gail and Doug retired to Pike Lake and they spent their winters in Panama City Beach Florida.

Please join Gail’s family in celebrating her life at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo for a Farewell Gathering in the Fireside Reception Room on Tuesday August 22, 2023. Please feel free to drop by anytime between 1:00-4:00 pm. Gail’s love of egg salad sandwiches and baked goods will be on hand, albeit not hers.

In Lieu of donations, in honour of Gail and her generous spirit, we encourage you to reach out and do something kind for someone.