The Rev. Gretchen B. (Jones) Switzer passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the UMass Medical Center in Worcester MA.  Rev. Switzer is survived by her husband of 32 years, Rev. David A. Switzer; two children, Sabrina K. Switzer and Parker K. Switzer both of Worcester; her sister, Susan Fuller of Wood River Junction, RI.; a brother-in-law, Douglas Switzer and his wife Xuan of Chicago; a sister-in-law Cindy Dempsey and her husband Drew of Fort Thomas, KY; four nephews and one niece.

Rev. Switzer was born in Boston MA, daughter of the late Robert W. and Dorothy Q. (Bell) Jones.  She graduated from Wellesley HIgh School, Bucknell University with a Bachelor’s in music history and later earned her Master’s degree from Andover Newton Theological School, Class of 1987. She was a pastor for the United Church of Christ for 37 years before retiring.  She was a talented writer who published two books, was a member of the Worcester Inner Faith and was the former “book lady” at Nelson Place School for many years.  In her spare time, she enjoyed kayaking, hiking, and vacationing to Bar Harbor, Maine.  In her younger years she played the guitar and sang, as music fed her soul.  She made it her purpose to help anyone in her congregation if they ever needed anything.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, May 23rd from 10-11 am with her funeral service immediately following at 11:00 am in the United Congregational Church, 6 Institute Rd., Worcester.  Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 24th at 12:00 noon at Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA  22116-7023, Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or to a charity of your choice.

To read more please go to:  https://www.mercadantefuneral.com/obituary/rev-gretchen-switzer