Lovey Swingle with her family members. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal CLARKS SUMMIT – Lubov Basalyga Swingle turned the age of 100 – a milestone as big as her legacy.
She has been a staple in the community, having worked at the former Don’s Market, which was located on Winola Road. The store belonged to her late sister and brother-in-law, Delores and Don Neglak.
When asked how it feels to be 100 years old, Lovey replied, “I don’t feel any different.”
On Friday, March 15, Lovey’s centennial was celebrated with friends and family members, who threw a party at her residence, Abington Manor. It was also attended by other residents, including her roomate of four years, Donna Osborn. Lovey and Donna came to live at Abington Manor at the same time and became good friends. They both survived the COVID virus together.
“I never met anyone like Lovey and her family,” said Donna.
Lovey’s 101-year-old former neighbor from Newton Township, Audrey Zeiss, who’s also an Abington Manor resident, accompanied Lovey at the party as well.
“It was a wonderful event honoring her (Lovey) life,” said Audrey.
Lovey was the friendly face of Don’s Market from it opening in 1964 to its closing in 2014. She tirelessly greeted everyone who set foot inside the store.
While her sister Delores, who was nicknamed Dodo, was the store’s general manager and Don, the store’s butcher, Lovey wore many hats at the store working as a cashier and deli person. She also cleaned the store making it spotless. She kept criminals away from Don’s Market as well. Legend has it that she ran off a would-be robber after she had jumped on his back and started pounding on him. She may have just come from behind and grabbed him by his hoodie, but regardless, the man ran out of the store.
Eric Reese, the oldest of Lovey’s five grandsons, recalls working at Don’s market in the summer during his childhood. He would help Lovey stock the shelves and unload the trucks.
“It was fun because Don’s Market was a complete family store,” he said. “Every Christmas Eve, my uncle Don would have a party for the whole community. Everybody would come in and have drinks and eat.”
Eric also remembers coming to his grandmother’s house and having a family dinner for Russian Christmas Eve on Jan. 6. He also played whiffle ball in the backyard of her house pretending to be on the show, “This Week in Baseball.”
Despite her age, Lovey still remembers everything.
“It’s pretty impressive how sharp her mind is,” said Eric. “She remembers every kid that came to the store to get penny candy.”
Lovey’s niece, Susan Fueshko Perry, sees Lovey as the central part of the family.
“She (Lovey) has always been a source of laughter, wisdom, and fun all rolled together,” she said about her aunt. “She worked tirelessly to keep the store in ship-shop shape. She cared for people, kept them in line, made them laugh, and always made sure they were fed.”
Susan was happy with the staff of Abington Manor, who helped make Lovey’s birthday special.
“It’s been wonderful to celebrate this amazing milestone with the heart of our family,” she said. “Her friends and the caring staff made the occasion extra-special.”
Lovey, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Austria-Hungary, was one of 12 children. She grew up in Scranton on Wyoming Avenue and graduated from Scranton Technical High School. She is a member of the St. Nicholas Orthodox Greek Catholic Church. Her 100th birthday was also commemorated by a billboard with her image facing towards Clarks Summit from the notch.
She received numerous messages through #loveyturns100 on Facebook and other sources of social media.
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