Martha Lembeck Swaykus, 83, of St. Louis, MO, was called home to her beloved Lord and Savior on September 28, 2026. Her final hours were filled with laughter, love and prayer, sitting in her favorite “perch” in the kitchen, enjoying a lunch of bratwurst and some pumpkin beer, and looking forward to her trip to Philadelphia the following day.

A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Martha was born on March 2, 1943, to Francis (“Frank”) and Ruth Lembeck. After graduating from Visitation Academy in 1960, Martha obtained her nursing degree through St. John’s Mercy Hospital. It was there that she met her husband, Dr. Bernard (“Bernie”) Swaykus at daily Mass. They were married a year later. Martha was a daily communicant of St. Anselm’s Parish, where she and Bernie acted as Eucharistic Ministers and participated in and led many Catholic prayer groups, Life in the Spirit Seminars, and the Charismatic Renewal movement.

True to her biblical namesake, Martha was a woman of profound service and faith. With an unconditional devotion toward her family, she raised seven children in the faith and created a home full of warmth and laughter. She instilled in her family the importance of daily prayer, regular confession, and remaining in a state of grace. Beautiful inside and out, Martha was an amazing cook and a talented seamstress. She was active in both the Viz and Priory Mothers’ Clubs, and was especially proud of the years when she ran the Safari and Xanadu dinner auctions. Martha’s zest for life, curious mind, and Irish wit made her a joy to be around. She treated everyone like family, and made everyone feel at home.

Martha was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, Bernard Swaykus, and her parents, Francis and Ruth [Thompson] Lembeck.

She is survived by her children, Beth (Joseph) Londino, Tom (Cindy) Swaykus, John (Jill) Swaykus, Becky Swaykus, Sarah Swaykus, David (Lynn) Swaykus, and Mary Swaykus; her grandchildren, TJ (Kirsten), Katie, Zachary, Michael Fadler, Julianne, Matthew, William, Jacob, Joey, Annabelle, Sam, and Charlie Swaykus; her two great-grandchildren, Jackson and Oliver Swaykus; and her sister, Helen Lembeck, MMS.

Visitation will be held at Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home in Creve Coeur, MO, on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 1 – 5 p.m., beginning with a rosary at 12:30 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Anselm Parish in Creve Coeur, MO on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Should anyone wish to make a donation in Martha’s name, please consider one of her favorite charities: Our Lady’s Inn Maternity Homes (ourladysinn.org); Society of St. Vincent de Paul (svdpstlouis.org), or Medical Mission Sisters (www.medicalmissionsisters). 

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home
www.osfuneralhomes.com