Swan, Allison Jean

Allison Jean Swan
April 20, 1995 – February 16, 2020

It is with an ache in our hearts that the family of Allison Jean Swan announces her unexpected and tragic passing on February 16, 2020. She was 24 years old.

Allison was born in Vancouver and her family moved to Nelson when she was two months old. She considered herself fortunate to have a home base in Nelson throughout her life. She is survived by her Mom, Heather Kennedy, her sister, Caitlin Swan, her brother, Alex Swan, her Grannie Shirley Swan, and by her aunts, uncles and cousins. Allison was predeceased by her Dad, Andrew Swan, in November 2017.

Allison was raised on a small acreage in Blewett where she had many friends – both human and animal. Allison always had pets, and she was especially fond of animals with short legs. She introduced her family to the wondrous world of guinea pigs and dachshunds which resulted in many years of companionship from members of each species! Not to mention the multiple cats, dogs and horses that benefitted from Allison’s love and care.

Allison was intelligent, fun-loving, adventurous, and courageous. In class she was bright and enthusiastic, excelling in math and chess, and renowned for her funky hats! She had a unique outlook on life and challenged social norms. Throughout her life, Allison had a constant foundation of unconditional love and support from her family and her close-knit childhood friends. True to her determined nature, Allison fought hard to make positive choices. In 2017, she travelled to Australia to spend time with her Mom, and last summer she enjoyed travelling in Europe with friends. Allison had several countries she planned to visit in the years to come.

Allison continued on her path of success when she enrolled in and excelled at the Educational Assistant program from which she would have graduated in May 2020. She was excited about imminent possibilities for rewarding work and a fulfilling future. Allison’s family and friends are deeply proud of her commitment to never giving up on becoming her best self. Allison enriched our lives with her radiant smile, her kind nature, her wonderful sense of humour, and her gentle spirit. Allison was a bright and beautiful spark. She was a beacon of hope and promise to all who knew and loved her. Words cannot express how much she will be missed.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the first responders at BC Ambulance, Nelson Fire and Rescue and Dr. Sparrow who attended to Allison at the scene. We would also like to acknowledge the dedication of many individuals and groups who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of young people in our society.

There will be a memorial for Allison at the Taghum Community Hall on Saturday, February 29th, 2020 at 2 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association.