Dolores M. Swearingen

Dolores Marie Swearingen passed away peacefully at her home on December 25, 2018. She was born in Naxxar, Malta on Nov 7th, 1944.  The oldest of four children of Joseph & Josephine Coreschi - Dolores, Godwin, Margaret, and Janie.

Dolores, a Maltese immigrant, left her country in 1951 at the young age of 7. With enthusiasm in her heart and hope in her eyes, Dolores had no idea what America had in store for her.  The very first memory Dolores had of coming to America was reading the plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty that states “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door”.  From there, her first destination was Detroit, Michigan. She was surrounded by other family members from Malta that also migrated west for a better life.

Fast forward to Dolores' teenage years, she met her first husband Richard Woodcox and married at a young age of 19. During their marriage they had three beautiful daughters; Gina, Michelle & Kristi. As time moved on so did our mother’s heart and in the end, she ended up divorcing Richard. Being a single mother for many years Dolores was ready to seek love once again.

Finally, she met a tall, handsome, and extremely intelligent man at a local restaurant in Royal Oak, MI, his name was Kenneth Eugene Swearingen. One can only hope it must have been love at first sight. Fast forward a few years, they got married and had a child together, Gerret Alan Swearingen.

The year was 1982 with all 4 children, Dolores and Ken both decided it was time for a new adventure. They agreed to leave behind the cold climate of Michigan and exchange their snow boots for flip-flops and headed to California.

Dolores was the type of person you can always count on. If you had the chance of being her friend,  you would know it. Given how much of an extrovert Dolores was,  she was always the life of every party.  She would go out of her way to make sure everyone was happy. She was extremely talented when it came to arts and crafts. Making most of her children's clothes and Halloween costumes, there was never a time when Dolores wasn’t sitting at her sewing machine.

If you had a chance to get to know Dolores, even if it was just for a brief moment in time; she probably had a massive impact on your life and on your heart. As long as we remember Dolores,  she will live on for all eternity. As I know in my heart, Dolores Marie Swearingen is in heaven looking down on all of us with a smile on her face.

Dolores is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Her husband Kenneth Eugene Swearingen. Gina Twombly and her three children: Cody, Jacob & Avery. Michelle Lira and her three children: Payton, Roman & Jossie.  Kristi Thompson and her two children: Tyler & Troy; Gerret Swearingen and his two children: Dylan & Harper. Lastly her great-grandson Kane, son of Jossie.

The Visitation will be Friday from 4-8, location Heritage Memorial Services, 17712 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92647.  The funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 29th at 11:00 am, location Dilday Chapel 17911 Beach Boulevard, CA 92647. Following the mass, she will be laid to rest at Good Shepherd Cemetery 8301 Talbert Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92646.

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