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Nnu fniilU Cilirar^ The NEW BERN PUM.ItHID.WIIiaY INTHI mART OP lAfTIRN NORTH CAROLINA I » ^ y NB-Craven Library VOLUME U I NEW BERK N. C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 19M 400 Jobnson St. Ne^/» Bern, NC 28560 NUMBER 32 Few of us are destined tore- main unforgettable ^ter we de part in ^irit from this earthly sphere. Daisy Swert, who died several weeks ago at the age of 94, qualifies as one of the ex ceptions. First and last, among those of the Roman Catholic faith she will be remembered as St. Paul's faithful organist for 61 years. Daisy, a native New Bernian, was only 11 when she took over the little pump organ at the church that would be her house of worship for a lifetime. Reaching those pedals must have been a real challenge for a youngster as short as she was, but it didn't intimidate her. Then, and in later years when a more modern musical instru ment replaced the wheezy pumper, she didn't let her diminutive size hamper her at the console. Her dependability and devo tion for so long i a span didn't escape the notice of Pope Pius Xn, and in 1948 he conferred his apostolic blessing uponher. Retirement as St. Paul's organ ist terminated one phase of Miss Daisy's activity, but she continued to work in the Audi tor's office at Craven County Courthouse until she was past 80. Age didn't concern Daisy greatly. Until her iinal illness diminished the durable vlvacl- ousness that was part and par cel of her personality, she maintained a youthful outlook on life. She fitted in well with each younger generation, and refused to agree that youth was wor se behaved than the boys and girls she grew up with. Musicians are usually re garded as temperamental, and it's easy to cite cases, but Miss Daisy had an even dls- position. An early riser, she bounced out of bed as rJieer- fully as a robin greeting the dawn, and kept this attitude all day long. Rarely did she dis play her Swert temper, but when she did blow her stack it was no trivial tempest. Miss Daisy didn't confine her nimble fingers to playing the organ wd her office work for County Auditor Ben O. Jones. Before and after so called re tirement, she delighted in sew ing, embroidering and cro cheting. Her bedspreads arid table mats were lovely crea tions perfected with the same exactness she demanded of her self in other lines of endeavor. She liked to read, kept abreast of current events, and measur ed by any standard could be termed a highly intelligent woman. She stayed young be cause shethoue^t young, and the fact thatblrthdaysfellli^t- ly upon her shoulders was not an accident but a logical result of her wholesome philosophy. Daisy was the last of the Swerts, and with the possible exception of Fred, the most uni que member of an unusual brood that included five more broth ers, and sisters, Bernard, Charlie, Joe, Mamie and Annie. Some of the children were born in New Bern, the others moved here with their parents from Pennsylvania. Bernle Swert, the German born father, established a but cher shop in the city's down town business section, and old timers will remember the sign (Continued on Page 8) The heavens weep And almost seem to say, '^here is the leader That we need today? Gone are the great To their eternal home Who gave a nation vision Beneath this stately dome." The somber, shadowed trees Come forth with no reply. And there is only silence As tears fall from the sky. -JGMcD. I' V r i
The New Bern Mirror (New Bern, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1968, edition 1
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