Mary Virginia Sweeney

Mary Virginia Sweeney, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, aunt and friend was welcomed by the Lord into her eternal rest on September 3, 2021.  Born on November 26, 1917 in Our Lady of Good Council parish, in Manhattan. Virginia married William (Bill) Sweeney, also from OLGC. Virginia raised her seven children in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx (Saint Barnabas parish), then retired with her devoted husband William to East Jewett, New York and Delray Beach, Florida.  In 2001, Virginia lost the love of her life, Bill, after celebrating 56 years of marriage. She is also predeceased by her parents, John Burns & Mary Naughton Burns, sister Margaret Burns, brother James Burns, and sister Rita Sweeney. She is survived by her seven children Susanne Hartman (Richard) of Rocky Point, North Carolina, Mary Murphy of Yonkers, NY, Ann Marie Dwyer of E. Jewett, NY and Delray Beach, Fla., Teresa Bader (Raymond) of Pearl River and Cooperstown, NY, Eleanor Czarnecki (Anthony) of Rochester, NY, Joan Moore (Dermot) of Pearl River, NY. and William Sweeney (Marianne) of Glen Ridge, NJ. She is predeceased by her sons-in-laws, Louis Weygand, Nelson Dicks, Patrick Murphy & William Dwyer. 

Virginia was adored by her 20 grandchildren Robin Radcliffe (Dennis), Christopher Weygand (Roni), Katherine Waters (Timothy), Kristen Troy (Daniel), Sharon Fisher (Greg), Lauren Murphy, Thomas Moore (Colleen), Joseph Czarnecki, Raymond Bader IV (Allyse), Patricia Czarnecki, Terence Moore (Danielle), William Sweeney, Patrick Murphy (Heather), Dean Scully, Michael Sweeney, Jennifer Murphy, Conor Moore (Donna), Owen Sweeney, Margaret Moore (Andrew) and John Murphy.  Virginia was blessed to enjoy the love and devotion of her 23 great-grandchildren Joseph, Ryan, Cameron and McKenzie Radcliffe, Brandin, Jadin and Mylie Weygand, Liam Scully, Michael Murphy, Matthew, Collin and Cassidy Waters, Madelyn, Brendan and Kieran Troy, Charlotte and Emilia Bader, Avery and Emma Fischer, Rose, Charlie, Cormac and Amelia Moore.

During her 103 plus years, Virginia lived through two pandemics, too many wars to cite, the Great Depression, the Age of Space Exploration, and the Digital Revolution. She actually started grade school in Ireland, when the outbreak of the Irish Civil forced her family to extend their visit. That experience fostered a life-long relationship with all her cousins in Ireland. Luckily, she was only a young girl when Prohibition occurred, as she was known to enjoy a scotch and soda even until her last days. A proud member of the ‘Greatest Generation,” her optimism, compassion, generosity, and willingness to serve her community were all grounded in her deep Catholic faith, her love of country and the belief in the capacity and need of all people to love and be loved, forgive and be forgiven and respect and be respected.

Virginia was president of the St. Barnabas Rosary Society and the St. Barnabas School’s Mother’s Club, where she organized many fundraising card parties, fashion shows and plays.  For many years, she and her husband were members of the Matt Talbert Group of the Christian Family Movement, where they met their lifelong friends and created so many wonderful memories of love and laughter that their children will remember forever.

Virginia was always a curious observer of life, an avid reader, a master of the crossword puzzle and a wonderful storyteller with an incredible memory. She could retell historical and personal events with such vivid details that she always had a captivated audience. She nurtured her creativity and was an aspiring artist who loved to paint, crochet and did many other types of crafts, many of which her family received and will cherish forever.

Her family and friends are grateful to have loved and been loved by Virginia for so many years and pray that she will enjoy her well-deserved Rest in Eternal Peace.

Visiting Wednesday September 8, 2021 from 3-5 and 7-9 at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home Inc.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM Thursday September 9, 2021 at St. Aedan R.C. Church.  The burial will be held 11:30 Friday September 10, 2021 at Pleasant Valley Cemetery is Ashland, NY.  

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