Marcella Swift Scanlon

Marcella Swift Scanlon
Marcella Swift Scanlon united with her Savior on Tuesday, April 17 after a short struggle with cancer. She was 82.
She was born on November 1, 1929 in Upper Darby, PA and headed west after high school to attend Glendale City College and Occidental College, graduating with a BA in education and meeting her first husband, Patrick Swift.
When that marriage ended in 1970, Marcella boldly pursued a new career in psychology, earning her Master’s Degree and her Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor’s license.
Subsequently, she worked as a therapist for the County of Orange’s Department of Mental Health for many years, was married to Dr. Joseph Scanlon until his passing, and continued her private practice well into her seventies while completing her PhD.
In her golden years, “Nana” was grateful to travel extensively, serve her church and Meals on Wheels, enjoy a variety of arts and cuisines, and cheer her Lakers to championships.
Marcella’s professional and personal lives were distinguished by her fierce faith, passionate enthusiasm, endless sense of wonder, and steadfast commitment. She impacted countless lives in her work, her Balboa Peninsula Point community, her Catholic Church, and her adoring family; her relationships were always her priority. Above all, she taught us how to love.
She is survived by her sons Ken, Pete and, Tom and their wives Bonnie, Beth, and Kelly; her grandchildren Ben, Kelsey, Jessica, Natalie, Bobby, and Kieran; her brother Del and his wife Beverly; her sister Jane and her husband Gary; and her beloved Jack Gawlik.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to her cherished church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 1444 W. Balboa Bl., where a Memorial Mass will be held in her honor on Friday, April 20, at 10 A.M. Please join us as we love our Nana.