Swanee Hatch, 72, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 27, 2018 in Mesa, AZ after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Swanee was born to Tom and Nellie Wheeler on March 4, 1946 in Phoenix, AZ. She was raised in Tempe, AZ and graduated from Tempe High School, as did all 5 of her children. While attending ASU, she met Jerry K. Hatch and in 1966 they were married in the Mesa, AZ temple. Swanee and Jerry raised their 5 children in Tempe. Swanee is survived by her husband of 52 years, Jerry K. Hatch; children, Holly and Michael Rogers, Brian and Marta Hatch, Derek and Elizabeth Hatch, Jolyn and Christopher McLaughlin, and Jeron and Ann Hatch; 20 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren, with a third due in January. She is also survived by her sister, Maureen Speed.
Swanee was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served within various organizations of the church. Her whole life was spent quietly serving those around her. She loved her family and supported them in all the activities they were involved in. She loved cooking, sewing, gardening, reading, and visiting with friends and family. After her kids were all graduated from high school, she drove a school bus for the Tempe School District. Swanee was greatly loved by all who knew her and will be missed, especially by her family. She was a true example of love and service.
We’d like to give a loving thank you to Marilyn and Kim Willis and their staff at Heart Prints Residential Care Home for their loving care these past two years, as well as Dr. Owensby and her staff at Hospice at Home of Arizona for the loving care and support they have given over the past several years.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 10:00am, with a visitation prior to the service at 9:00am. The service and viewing will both be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1221 West Howe Street, Tempe, Arizona 85281. Interment will be Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the Snowflake Cemetery at 11:30am.
Great friend, great example of service
I love Swanee so much. She was such an example to me as a young, newly wed in our very first ward. Trey and I remember watching the Hatch family grow up. We remember that Jolyn was blessed the first Sunday we attended our new ward. Holly was probably in middle school and Brian and Derek just school age. We thought that we were so far away from that time of life, and yet just eight years later we moved all the way to south Tempe with five little boys under our wings. We enjoyed such fun times with your family; Mexico trips, 3 wheeling, temple nights, ward activities, youth conferences, serving, teasing, and just loving your family. Swanee was an example to me in so many ways. Homemaking, organizing, serving others, leading an organization, being a great mother to name a few. She was one of the most capable and efficient women I have ever known. She was also a good friend. Once while away on a youth activity, I had the chance to have a very personal conversation with your mom. I expressed some thoughts and feelings I had about losing my dad as a young teenager. I felt then that I really learned to know her and that she was truly my friend. She quietly and diligently went about accomplishing good, never bringing attention to herself. She showed her Christlike love to everyone through her quiet, selfless service. As Trey said the other day, “She understood ministering before the rest of us.” We love you all–our lives have been blessed by our associations with the Hatch family through these many years. We are sad that we’re not able to attend her service–please assure your dad that we would be there if it were possible. And yes, I gladly take credit for the blessed union of my favorite youngest brother and my all time favorite Laurel! Loves, Sharon
Love her and your whole family. My love and prayers are with you.