Last Updated on April 11, 2024 by Fisher Funeral Chapel
Former Cass County resident, Alison April Swartzel MacHaffie, age 49, of San Rafael, CA, passed away on November 25, 2023, after a year-long battle with cancer.
Born April 18,1974, she was the daughter of Denise Schneider Hyman who survives in Hillsborough, NC.
A 1992 graduate of Caston High School, Alison furthered her education at West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. From there she entered a graduate program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and studied Ethnomusicology. She also attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, for a Music Therapy degree. She was an accomplished flutist and enjoyed sharing her talents by playing for various events and venues, participating in ensembles, and teaching private lessons.
Alison also worked as a job coach and a care provider for the disabled community over a 20-year career span while residing in Asheville, NC, and Marin County, CA. She was also interested in natural healing and became certified as a Health Coach, giving hope and counsel to other women battling cancer. She herself was a 12-year survivor.
She was an avid hiker and photographer and took copious amounts of photos from all the beautiful places she would visit, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the California Coast. She had a spectacular Instagram page and artfully displayed her nature photos for everyone.
Alison’s laugh was contagious, and she could brighten up any room with her smile. She maintained relationships with all her family and friends, some going all the way back to grade school. People were a priority and she never missed a birthday. She loved sending cards and buying gifts, especially for the kids in her life.
She is very much missed by her mother and her surviving son, Judah Collins, age 29, of Oakland, CA. She was also the much-adored big sister to four brothers: Jody (Leigh) Swartzel, Holly Springs, NC, Amos Swartzel, Moundsville, WV, Moses (Lila) Swartzel, Wheeling, WV, and Gaura (Brittany) Hyman, Moundsville, WV; beloved aunt to nephews Anders, Nolin, Jade, and Rueben Swartzel, and nieces Hollynn Swartzel and Olivia Kay Hyman; cherished niece of the Schneider sisters Linda Woosley, Janet Sholty, Anita Ellison, and Rebecca Treitz; and several cousins who loved her dearly, Caroline and Annie Sholty, Teaque Smith, Jana St. Louis, and Amy Gile.
A Celebration of Life service for Alison Swartzel (MacHaffie) will be held for family and friends at Fisher Funeral Chapel, 1801 Chase Road, Logansport, IN on April 13, 2024. Time for sharing memories, stories, and thoughts about Alison will be set aside during the service. Visitation is 3:00-3:30 p.m. with service to follow from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to any charitable organization that benefits cancer research or the care and comfort of cancer patients.