A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 PM on Friday, May 8, 2026, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral with Msgr. James Ferguson officiating.
Visitation will be held at the church from 1:30 PM until the time of service on Friday, May 8, 2026.
A private family burial will be held at Rougeou Cemetery in Elmer at a later date.
Emily Ann Sterkx Swift was born in Alexandria, LA on August 20, 1928, and passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2026, following a long and healthy life at the age of 97.
She attended Providence High School and graduated from Northwestern State University with a degree in Social Work. She married John Benjamin (Ben) Swift in 1950 and together they lovingly raised 6 children. She was an accomplished seamstress and a wonderful cook.
She worked as the Director of Social Services at Cabrini Hospital for years and much later enjoyed a sales position in “The Boutique” at Stein Mart. The friendships formed there with the other ladies led to a long-standing tradition of meeting for lunch at various spots around town.
She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Walter Wynne Sterkx, Sr. and Rita Mestayer Sterkx, brothers Walter Wynne Sterkx, Jr., Joseph Adolf Sterkx and Charles Douglas Sterkx; sisters Rita Sterkx Lawrence and Mamie Hanna Sterkx, sister-in law Joe Betty Sterkx, brother-in-law Robert Lee Lawrence, and son -in-law Field Gremillion. She is survived by her brother, Richard Anthony Sterkx and sister-in-law Joann Hickman Sterkx.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Walter Braxton Swift, Emily Swift Crews (Hal), Mary Swift Gremillion, John Benjamin Swift, Jr., Thomas Clayton Swift, and Jane Ann Swift (Jenni Peters).
As a child, her father called her “Annie Rooney” and she was lovingly known as “Rooney” to her 5 grandchildren, Josey Swift (Nicole), Jake Swift (Sarah), Braxton Swift (Amanda), Meg Gremillion Milliner (Jarred) and Laura Gremillion, along with 9 great grandchildren.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Josey Swift, Braxton Swift, Jake Swift and Jarred Milliner. Honorary pallbearer is Patrick Dunn.
Our family would like to give special gratitude to the staff at Compassionate Care Hospice and Dr. Greg Brian.