Obituary of Jean Amy Swenson

     Jean Amy (J’Amy) Waterstreet Swenson, age 76, of 24 Wilkes Ave., Amsterdam, died suddenly and unexpectedly on May 5, 2021.

Mrs. Swenson was born on November 17, 1944 in Amsterdam, the daughter of the late Charles N. Waterstreet and Dorothy Foote Overbaugh. She attended Amsterdam schools, graduating from the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School in 1962. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Oneonta State Teacher’s College and did graduate work at the College of St. Rose.

Mrs. Swenson was an elementary school teacher in the Greater Amsterdam School District for 32 years, retiring for health reasons in 2000. During her teaching career, Mrs. Swenson taught at five different schools; three of them (Ft. Johnson, Florida, and Vrooman Avenue) closing while she was on staff.

She was known as a strict disciplinarian, but her students loved and respected her, often returning to her classroom to volunteer or, later in life, asking that their own children be placed with her. One of her favorite anecdotes was regarding a time when a new principal walked into the classroom early in the school year while she was teaching and interrupted by saying, “Mrs. Swenson...” Before he could finish, the entire class turned to him and said, ”...doesn’t do rude.”  The principal quietly turned and left the room.

In addition to her teaching duties, Mrs. Swenson served as a senator for the Amsterdam Teachers’ Association and continued to be active in retirement as a member of the Amsterdam Retired Teachers’ Association where she served for a number of years with her friend Sande Zirlin as co-chairs of their scholarship fund. Since her retirement, Mrs. Swenson has volunteered as a tutor for the Montgomery County Literacy Project, leading numerous students to GED attainment. For a period of two years, she was acting director of the project and was proud of the fact that she had the greatest number of students attaining their GED of any program in the state.

During her earlier years, Mrs. Swenson served as a Girl Scout leader and cookie chairman and was a Big Sister. She was also a board member and membership chair for the Amsterdam Area Community Concerts Association. Subsequent to her retirement, Mrs. Swenson joined the Amsterdam Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and worked in the hospital gift shop as well as on other projects. 

J’Amy was a dedicated member of the River Valley Ringers hand bell choir for over 30 years and continued to play with them until the Covid pandemic forced them to suspend rehearsals and performances. As a member of the choir she also attended many regional hand bell festivals and had the opportunity to hear, and play with, several nationally renowned ringers. At one point, she surprised her then director, Peg Lazarou, by learning to play an entire number solo, something most bell ringers would never even consider.

She was a member of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir for many years, founded the prayer shawl ministry, was a faithful member of the women’s bible study and, for eleven years, was co-chair, with her friend Bette Errig, of the Comfort Zone Ministry, retiring at the end of 2018.

J’Amy was a loving and giving person who cared deeply about people. She was known to hundreds of followers on Facebook for her daily morning messages or Life Lessons. They contained moral principles, and guidance on how to live.  Her final act of generosity was as a tissue donor.

A devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Swenson is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Robert Swenson, whom she married on March 22, 1975. She is also survived by her beloved daughter, Elizabeth Anne Remian of Worcester, Mass. and her husband Dana; two sisters, Catherine Brown of East Syracuse, and Dorothy Kuba of Fort Edward; a brother Charles Waterstreet of Rochester, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother David Waterstreet.

Funeral arrangements are by the Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart Family Funeral Homes. Calling hours will be on Monday May 10, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00PM at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Tuesday May 11, 2021 at 11:00AM with the Rev. William Hodgets presiding. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Due to Covid restrictions, masks must be worn and social distancing observed on both occasions.

J’Amy was an incredibly caring person, especially where children are concerned. She believed that teaching young children to read was the most important thing you could do, which led her, while she was Comfort Zone co-chair, to establish the book table, where books were made available for free.

She loved to tell the story of a young boy who came up to her one night shortly after the book table was established and said, “I have a problem and they told me you are the only one who can help me. There’s this book I really like, but there’s this other book my friends all say is really good and I want to read that as well, and I don’t know what to do.” At the time, the book table was new, and the rule was, one book per person each week. J’Amy told the boy he could have both books and the kid asked her, “When do I have to have it back?” She answered him, “You don’t.” “You mean it’s mine to keep forever?” the boy answered. And he was ecstatic when she told him it was. He had never owned a book in his life! From that point forward, the one book rule for children was gone!

With this in mind, the family has created the Jean Amy Swenson Literacy Trust to help provide books to young children who come from circumstances where they can’t afford them. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Jean Amy Swenson Literacy Trust c/o the Betz, Rossi and Bellinger Family Funeral Home,171 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010.  Please leave condolences online at www.brbsfuneral.com