Margaret "Margie" Mary (Fantine) Swanger

Margaret “Margie” Mary (Fantine) Swanger

Selfless and Compassionate -

Margaret “Margie” Mary (Fantine) Swanger, age 83, of Enola, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 2, 2023.  Margie was born on Thursday, October 26, 1939, in Harrisburg to the late Giovanni Fantine and Mary Louise (Notarangelo) Fantine.  Margie was the widow of Wayne Swanger, whom she married on May 4, 1985, and who died on December 19, 2019.  In addition to her parents and husband, Margie is preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Fantine, and her former husband, Donald L. Hazzard, Sr.

Margie’s survivors include her seven children: William “Bill” Hazzard of Harrisburg; Mary Hazzard and her husband, William “Bill” Jones, of Slatington; Donald “Don” Hazzard, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann, of Shermans Dale; Barbara “Barb” Hazzard and her partner, Kim Bricker, of Shermans Dale; Wayne “Herm” Swanger and his wife, Mary, of Clarion; Darlene Schwartz of York; Teresa Nolt and her husband, Jeffrey “Jeff”, of Coudersport; her eight grandchildren: Nicholas Hazzard, Jordan Hazzard, Neal Swanger, Michael Nolt, Luke Swanger, Tricia Stump, Vivian “Kathy” Chataginer, Rebekah Nolt; her seven great-grandchildren: Jack Chataginer, Emile Swanger, Lydia Stump, Elizabeth “Ellie” Stump, Grace Chataginer, Gabriella Chataginer, Emma Chataginer; her sister, Jennie Englebright of Marysville; and several nieces and nephews.

Margie attended Susquenita High School.  She retired from Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, after many years of service working as a laundry aide.  Margie was a devout Catholic and longtime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Enola.  The church and her faith were very important to her.  She had compassion for both people and animals, especially those in need or suffering.  Margie had a kind soul and always empathized with those suffering and felt their pain personally.  She was generous, selfless, and had a great spirit of hospitality; she always wanted to feed anyone who walked through her door.  Seldom idle, she had a very strong work ethic and always kept herself busy.  Margie loved animals and plants, but more than anything else, she loved her family.  She was proud of her family, her home and her Italian heritage.  Margie will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

All are welcome to join Margie’s family at her viewing on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:15 a.m. at Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory, 37 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; with Reverend Robert Yohe officiating.  Margie’s family invites everyone to join them for a time of food and fellowship at Buhrig’s Gathering Place (next to the funeral home) immediately following the service.  Burial will follow the reception in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Mechanicsburg.

The family sends their most heartfelt thanks to Dr. Sexton and the critical care staff at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital who so lovingly cared for Margie during her illness and to Dr. Papoutsis for her ongoing care over the years.

Contributions in celebration of Margie’s life can be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 15120, Chicago, IL 60693, www.Heart.org/Donate; or Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210, www.ewtn.com; or Catholic Charities, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111, www.cchbg.org.

Margie’s family has entrusted her care to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Margie’s full obituary, view her memorial video and portrait, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign her official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.