A LOVER OF BEAUTY IS GONE SERVICE TO BE HELD AUG. 7 FOR DEBORAH DECAMPOS SWIGERT.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

GRANADA HILLS - Beautiful, smart and loyal is how family and friends will remember Deborah DeCampos Swigert.

DeCampos Swigert, a 45-year resident of the San Fernando Valley, died July 20 in Granada Hills. She was 51.

``People were always as impressed as hell when they met her,'' said longtime friend Kim Holland. ``You knew you were in the presence of someone different. She was so smart in everything. She was a very good friend.''

Her friend's strikingly good looks - long dark hair, brown eyes and a great figure - had an unusual effect whenever they went out shopping together, Holland said.

``There was one thing that happened to her all the time. We'd be looking at lotions at Thrifty's, for example, and some man would come over and tell her: You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I want to marry you,'' remembered Holland.

``They wouldn't simply ask for her phone number; they would propose to her. It didn't matter if she had a wedding ring on, was pregnant or had the kids with her. It always happened to Deborah.''

The two were kindred spirits from the time they met in 1988, Holland said, describing her friend as generous and helpful to friends in need. DeCampos Swigert offered shelter at her Panorama City home to Holland, her husband and pet rabbits after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake knocked out electricity to Holland's residence for a week.

``She was very honest. If she told you something, you knew it would be true,'' Holland said. ``Honesty was her biggest thing and that was probably the core of her personality.''

DeCampos Swigert appreciated the beauty of nature, particularly the redwood and sequoia forests in Northern California. She lived for a number of years in Paradise, Calif. She enjoyed going to lakes and was an avid water skier in her youth.

``She found never-ending beauty in flowers. She would cut flowers and make bouquets for every room in our house,'' said her husband, Richard Swigert. ``She really loved roses.''

DeCampos Swigert loved animals and had many pets over the years - birds, fish, dogs, cats and, at various times, rabbits, chickens and ducks. Her husband recalled that if the family had one pet it had to have a partner so it wouldn't be alone.

Reading was a favorite pastime for the eldest of six sisters and one brother. She enjoyed books by Stephen King and books on spirituality. DeCampos Swigert favored bands and music from the 1970s, including Bad Company and Crosby, Stills and Nash. She was a movie fan and ``Braveheart,'' said her husband, was a movie she could see over and over.

``She was very outgoing and strong-willed,'' said her eldest daughter Melanie. ``She could speak her mind on anything. She was passionate, smart and beautiful. She was good at making things look beautiful. She told me if you have a passion, go for it.''

DeCampos Swigert worked at Hillwood Escrow in West Hills for 25 years. She was an escrow officer for many of those years until she chose to be a stay-at-home mother to her two daughters.

Deborah Susan DeCampos was born Oct. 4, 1952, in Ohio. She attended De La Salle Catholic School and Patrick Henry Junior High. She graduated from Granada Hills High School in 1970.

DeCampos Swigert is survived by her husband, Richard Swigert; daughters, Melanie Catherine Anne and Amanda Mary Rose; her mother, Clara DeCampos; sisters, Catherine, Juliette, Rozeanne, Nina, Gayle and Anne; and a brother, Michael. Her father, Dr. Mario DeCampos, preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 7 at Utter McKinley Mortuary, 11071 Columbus Ave., Mission Hills. Her ashes will be scattered at sea.

Memorial contributions can be made to a women's shelter or an animal charity of the donor's choice.

Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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