Violet Mason (1931-2018)

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FARMINGTON – Violet Mason went home to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by her beloved family.

Violet Ruth Swanson was born in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, August 30, 1931. She grew up in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Violet, or Swanee as classmates called her, loved to listen to Perry Como on the radio and go horseback riding. She graduated from Chicopee High School in 1948. After high school, Violet landed a job working for MassMutual. It wasn’t long before she met the only man she ever truly loved.

On September 13, 1952 she married her soulmate, Frederick Mason, and they remained happily married until his passing in 1989. Together they raised five beautiful children who caused her no end of grief. She dedicated her life to raising them up to be good, God fearing men and women, and by all accounts she mostly succeeded. Being a naturally frugal woman, she raised her family on a shoestring, and so powdered milk, and margarine containers full of leftovers filled her with a sense of pride and her refrigerator with good food. The great depression definitely lived on through the 70’s and 80’s in her household.

Violet was a stoic and conservative lady, quite concerned with propriety, though not without a sense of humor, which she always held in reserve for just the right moment. Though her children tried their best, she rarely lost her temper. Often she would remark that all she wanted for Christmas was well behaved children, however, it appears she never did receive that gift. It was no matter though, for she loved them just the same, and they remained the focus of her life until the very end.

Church and community were always important to Violet. She attended Beans Corner Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir for many years. Her Swedish meatballs were a popular treat at every church potluck, and if you didn’t like what she made, then you didn’t have to eat it, now, did you. Outside the church she dedicated many years to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as working as a receptionist at Franklin Memorial Hospital, where she became a well known and much loved member of the Farmington community. She remained active in the community for many years, until failing health precluded such activities.

Violet enjoyed watching musicals and violent, bloody thrillers. She would often remark how “that Gene Kelley sure can dance” or “there’s no need for such violence and language!” while knitting argyle socks, putting together a jigsaw puzzle, or clipping coupons from the newspaper insert.

Violet is predeceased by her husband, Frederick Mason, and her son, Christopher Mason. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth Carlson of Livingston, TX, Leslie Swan of Farmington, ME, Jonathan Mason and wife, Sue of Apple Valley, MN, and Joshua Mason and wife JoAnna of Gardiner, ME, grandchildren, Nicholas and Amy Carlson, sons Ryker and Wyatt of Fulshear, TX, Derek and Amy Carlson and son Max of Plano, TX, Frederick and Mae Swan and children, Persephone, Frederick, and Genevieve of Industry, ME, Hannah and Jason Krautle, their son Oliver and daughter Harriet of Clifton Park, NY, Erik Mason of Marietta, GA, Alix and Sean Penney of Sidney, ME, Gunthar Swan of Temple, ME, Calvin Mason and Lorelei Mason of Gardiner, ME.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Wiles Remembrance Center:Adams~McFarlane Chapel, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, on Tuesday evening from 6-8 PM. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 11 AM from the Bean’s Corner Baptist Church, Rte. 133, Jay. Violet did not care for flowers, in lieu of flowers her family asks that you consider giving remembrance gifts to her church 17 Chesterville Rd., Jay, Me. 04239, and ,”save your empty margarine tubs, because they really come in handy.” Following services, a comfort reception will be hosted by the Church Hospitality Committee in the undercroft. All are welcome. Winter entombment at the funeral home Private family spring committal services will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Farmington. .

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6 Comments

  1. Rest in Peace Violet. You were a warm and caring woman and I warmly recall working with you.
    May her family find peace in their loving memories.

  2. My fondest recollection of Violet is when she and Fred would arrive for work at Franklin Memorial Hospital. He would take her a cup of tea to the switchboard. Her calm voice always reassuring when announcing a important call over the intercom.
    Rest easy, Violet.

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