June Marsha Bensten Swan, age 81, of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on Monday, October 14, 2024.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 3, 1943, June was the daughter of the late Marshall Edgar Bensten and Helen Beatrice Nichols Bensten. She had an idyllic childhood in Brooklyn, wandering in Prospect Park, attending Dodgers games, and visiting the Brooklyn Zoo. June spent her summers as a camper and then counselor at Camp Ponemah in Kent, Connecticut, where she taught swimming. She got her bachelor’s degree at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, and then obtained a master’s degree in English at the Brooklyn College of the City of New York. She was engaged at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City and a few months later married the love of her life, Alan George Swan of East Aurora, New York, on July 8, 1967, in New York City. They enjoyed over 51 wonderful years together before his passing in 2018. June was an incredibly devoted mother to her two daughters, Nicole and Lizzy. In addition to traveling all over the world as the wife of a United States Diplomat, June started her career as an executive assistant on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. in 1968, where she worked for three senators. Then, from 1972-1984, she followed Alan to his embassy assignments in Ecuador, Egypt, and Liberia, where she raised her girls and explored the countries and cultures. Once back in the U.S., she spent the past 35 years as a special projects coordinator for International Registries and worked remotely almost to her last day. In her spare time, June was passionate about all species of wild birds, photography, flowers, beads, Bedouin silver, and, most of all, giving to others.
Written by June Swan in 2011: “This life does not last forever. It is a passing thing. From this understanding comes two truths: what we do with what we have matters very much and we should spend much less time and energy on things that are not important. Learn that this one day is the miracle, that this is the only certain day we have. Understand that, and we have been set free to really live it. I do not relish thoughts of death, but I like living in the light which mortality sheds.”
In addition to her parents, June was preceded in death by her husband and their adorable rescue dog, Baby Belle.
Survivors include her two daughters, Nicole Catherine Swan Gore of Occoquan, Virginia and Elisabeth Hope Swan Johnson of Clarkesville, Georgia; her son-in-law Dirk Allen Johnson of Clarkesville, Georgia; her grandson Jack William Johnson of Clarkesville, Georgia; a host of friends who were also considered family; as well as her faithful orange tabby cat, Velcro.
As per June’s wishes, a private “party” to celebrate her life will be held at a later date.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
