Polly Sweyer

November 15, 1941 - November 23, 2016
Polly Sweyer

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Paulina “Polly” Elizabeth Sweyer, of Wilmington, NC passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 23, 2016, after a courageous and graceful battle with Multiple Myeoloma. In the end, she was surrounded by her family

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, David Sweyer. Polly also leaves behind three sons and their wives; Dave and Amy Sweyer, Jeff and Paige Sweyer, and Peter and Crissy Sweyer. Polly also leaves behind six talented grandkids who loved performing for their grandma – Brittany Caroline Sweyer, senior at Vanderbilt University, Kaitlin Addison Sweyer, sophomore at Elon University, Elizabeth Lee Sweyer, freshmen at Wake Forest University, Matthew Jeffrey Sweyer, senior at Cape Fear Academy, Reed David Sweyer, sophomore at Cape Fear Academy, and Scarlett Grace Sweyer, 3rd grader at Wrightsville Beach Elementary. Polly also leaves behind her beloved sister Linda (Sudie) Watkins and her husband Rich.

Polly was born on November 15, 1941 in Cincinnati, OH to the late Charles and Esther Heitz. She grew up in Ft. Thomas, KY graduating from Highlands High School. She went on to earn her Bachelors of Education from the University of Cincinnati in 1963.

After college Polly taught Elementary Education for three years. Polly left her teaching career in 1967 to be a full time mother to her three sons. During this time, she started a youth soccer league with the YMCA in Corning, NY, supported her boys athletic endeavors, and was the proud mom of three Eagle Scouts.

In 1980, Polly started her second career becoming a CENTURY 21 Real Estate agent. Polly quickly became a top producer for CENTURY 21 Lane & Associates by assisting Corning executives with their housing needs as they moved to and from the area.

In 1987, Polly and her husband David moved to Wilmington NC and founded Century 21 Sweyer & Associates. Polly was a natural born sales person and helped hundreds of families find homes. Polly was also a great teacher and mentor. Over her career, she helped hundreds of sales associates realize their full potential. The tenacity and persistence she taught others truly had a tremendous effect on everyone she touched.

After she slowed down her real estate career, she took classes at UNCW to continue the quest to learn anything and everything she could. She loved people and their histories and would often get the entire life and family history out of a stranger within the first 10 minutes of speaking with them. She was involved for years with the NHRMC Hospital Foundation, Celebrate Wilmington, and the UNCW Marine Science Center and seemed to have a never fading energy to help others.

Polly loved to travel. Using her retirement to globe trot, she would always research and learn everything she could about a place and the people before she went. Her favorite places were pursuing relatives in Germany, trips to Spain, Czechoslovakia, Portugal, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand to name a few. She returned from these adventures with intuitive observations about the places she had been and an excitement and passion for seeing everything she could.

Polly’s family extends a deep gratitude for the care provided to her during her battle with Multiple Myeloma by Dr. Cristina Gasparetto and the team at the Bone Marrow Center at Duke University and Dr. Schreiber and the team at the Zimmer Cancer Center.

The family will receive visitors from 2 pm – 4 pm on Sunday, November 27, 2016 at Wrightsville Manor, 1952 Allens Lane. Her memorial service will be at 1 pm Monday November 28, 2016 at Wrightsville Beach United Methodist Church, and following the service there will be a reception at Wrightsville Manor from 2 pm – 4 pm. A private burial will take place Monday morning in Arbor Walk at Oleander Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.The International Myeloma Foundation, IMF International Headquarters, 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607, USA. Or, Wrightsville Beach United Methodist Church, 4 Live Oak Dr, Wrightsville Beach 28480.

Please share memories and condolences to the family by clicking the “Post a Condolence” tab below.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 South 41st Street Wilmington, NC 28403. 910.791.9099


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  • November 25, 2016
    Freddie Jean baker says:
    To the Sweyer family I am deeply saddened . My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time. Polly was a wonderful person, hiring me as a real estate agent back in 1995.....she was always there for answers for any questions, any help that she could offer. She will be sorely missed.

  • November 23, 2016
    Deborah Albert says:
    I am so sorry for your loss

  • November 25, 2016
    Polly Floyd says:
    I am so sorry to hear you have lost your wonderful mother. She was always so kind &. Friendly. I only got to see her on occasions, but she always greeted me as if I were a best friend. This meant so much to me. My prays & love to your family.

  • November 25, 2016
    Diana and Bill Goodall says:
    Bill and I extend our deepest condolences to the whole family.

  • November 25, 2016
    Britt Cobble says:
    Polly would light up the room when she entered. She was such a joy to work with in Hampstead. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with you and your family.