Carroll K. Swanson

Olean- Carroll K. Swanson, of 1739 Allegany Street, Olean, passed away Friday (April 23, 2021) at the Olean General Hospital, after a short illness.

Born December 7, 1940 in Olean, she was the daughter of the late, Brad Swanson and Verna Johnson- Swanson Melnyk. On December 20, 1980, she married Cornelis “Dutch” Rustenberghe, of the Netherlands, who predeceased her on December 12, 1985.

A graduate of Olean High School, class of 1958, she pursued a career in music, following in her father’s footsteps. She began piano studies at the age of 4 years old and signed with the Robert Haugh Talent Agency in New York City, as did her father.  Her forte was piano bar work, and went by the stage name, “Carroll Swanson, Lady Diamond Dust.” That took her into main-stream hotels and lounges, that would later lead her to extensive travel with the Holland-American Cruise Ship Line, as well as, the Love Boat and several other cruise lines. Carroll then worked for over fifteen years as an entertainer in Las Vegas, NV. She returned to Olean in 2002, when her mother took ill, and opened a music studio and played at the Century Manor piano bar, until her retirement due to illness in 2016.

Carroll is survived by; a cousin, Ronald (Marlene) Anastasia of Olean, and many dear friends and students.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her step-father George Melnyk on January 14, 1998 and a brother, Bradley “Rocke” Swanson, on January 19, 2013.

Friends will be received at the Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State Street, Olean on Tuesday from 4-7pm.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday (April 28, 2021) at 11am in the funeral home.  Rev. David Tourville, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Allegany Cemetery, Allegany.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Carroll Swanson Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Performing Arts, c/o Fern Adelstein, Esq. 201 N. Union Street, Suite #311, Olean, NY 14760.

Like with her performances, Carroll requested her obituary ended with the line, “Bring your dancing shoes.”

If you would like to express a condolence, or share a story about Carroll, please visit, www.guentherfh.com.