Obituary for Virginia Marie Sweeney
Virginia Marie Sweeney, age 98, passed away peacefully while receiving blessings from the Chaplin and surrounded by her children on Friday, February 25th, 2022 at her home in Chappaqua, New York. Virginia was born on May 28th 1923 in Brooklyn, NY to Leo Nelson Shaw and Marie Adrienne Shaw nee Heffernan, both of Auburn, NY.
Virginia was raised in New Rochelle, NY and spent her summers at the family farm in Auburn, NY. After graduating high school from Ursuline Academy, Virginia went on to Hollins College where she graduated with a major in French. She graced the cover of the Hollins College recruitment brochure for many years - sitting beautifully astride a horse. After college, Virginia went to Katherine Gibbs to hone her secretarial skills and then went on to her first job at RCA.
Virginia met her husband Michael James Sweeney in church while attending mass at New Rochelle’s Holy Family after he returned from World War II. They were married on April 3rd, 1948 at the Westchester Country Club. He was the apple of her eye as she was of his. They settled in Manhattan and then a couple of years later moved to Larchmont. Seven years after that, they moved with their four children to Venezuela. In 1965, they moved back to Chappaqua, NY and had their fifth child. Virginia has lived in her original Chappaqua house for over 58 years.
Virginia loved to dance and she hated mathematics. She had so much class and was thrilled to be mistaken for Grace Kelly on more than one occasion! Virginia was a dedicated mother – first and foremost. She treasured her children and grandchildren and embraced every moment with them. She was dedicated in her commitment to attending all their games, performances and events. She never took her eyes off of them. The pride she felt was easily evidenced on her glowing face. She was a very proud Mother and Grandmother. They will miss her very much.
Virginia was recently awarded for being one of the longest serving volunteers at the Twigs of Northern Westchester Hospital. She worked at the both the Twigs store in Mt. Kisco and at guest relations for the Hospital. She started in 1981 and retired in 2018.
Virginia was also one of the longest members of Shenorock Shore Club, joining in 1947 when her Brooklyn Dodgers were still in Brooklyn and remaining a member until her death. Many wonderful times and memories were created at Shenorock.
She was predeceased by her husband, Michael in 1981 and her two brothers, Lee Nelson Shaw and Robert Stuart Shaw.
She is survived by her five children, Laura Marie Sweeney (Gene Chuba), Michael James Sweeney Jr. (Kristy), Carol Elizabeth Schmidlapp (Larry), Robert Leo Sweeney (Annette) and Douglas Thomas Sweeney (Maria). She is also survived by her thirteen grandchildren Charlotte, Larry, Jake, Leo, Luke, Logan, Eleanor, Caroline, Thomas, Moriah, Tyler, Braden and Christian.
A viewing will held at Beecher Flooks Funeral Home in Pleasantville, NY on Monday February 28th from 4 pm to 7 pm. Mass will be held at Sts. John and Mary in Chappaqua, NY on Tuesday, March 1st at 10:00 am followed by internment services.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Twigs Thriftree, 449 Lexington Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY 10549 in memory of Virginia Sweeney for her many years of service dedication and support to the hospital and the community would be greatly appreciated.
Virginia was raised in New Rochelle, NY and spent her summers at the family farm in Auburn, NY. After graduating high school from Ursuline Academy, Virginia went on to Hollins College where she graduated with a major in French. She graced the cover of the Hollins College recruitment brochure for many years - sitting beautifully astride a horse. After college, Virginia went to Katherine Gibbs to hone her secretarial skills and then went on to her first job at RCA.
Virginia met her husband Michael James Sweeney in church while attending mass at New Rochelle’s Holy Family after he returned from World War II. They were married on April 3rd, 1948 at the Westchester Country Club. He was the apple of her eye as she was of his. They settled in Manhattan and then a couple of years later moved to Larchmont. Seven years after that, they moved with their four children to Venezuela. In 1965, they moved back to Chappaqua, NY and had their fifth child. Virginia has lived in her original Chappaqua house for over 58 years.
Virginia loved to dance and she hated mathematics. She had so much class and was thrilled to be mistaken for Grace Kelly on more than one occasion! Virginia was a dedicated mother – first and foremost. She treasured her children and grandchildren and embraced every moment with them. She was dedicated in her commitment to attending all their games, performances and events. She never took her eyes off of them. The pride she felt was easily evidenced on her glowing face. She was a very proud Mother and Grandmother. They will miss her very much.
Virginia was recently awarded for being one of the longest serving volunteers at the Twigs of Northern Westchester Hospital. She worked at the both the Twigs store in Mt. Kisco and at guest relations for the Hospital. She started in 1981 and retired in 2018.
Virginia was also one of the longest members of Shenorock Shore Club, joining in 1947 when her Brooklyn Dodgers were still in Brooklyn and remaining a member until her death. Many wonderful times and memories were created at Shenorock.
She was predeceased by her husband, Michael in 1981 and her two brothers, Lee Nelson Shaw and Robert Stuart Shaw.
She is survived by her five children, Laura Marie Sweeney (Gene Chuba), Michael James Sweeney Jr. (Kristy), Carol Elizabeth Schmidlapp (Larry), Robert Leo Sweeney (Annette) and Douglas Thomas Sweeney (Maria). She is also survived by her thirteen grandchildren Charlotte, Larry, Jake, Leo, Luke, Logan, Eleanor, Caroline, Thomas, Moriah, Tyler, Braden and Christian.
A viewing will held at Beecher Flooks Funeral Home in Pleasantville, NY on Monday February 28th from 4 pm to 7 pm. Mass will be held at Sts. John and Mary in Chappaqua, NY on Tuesday, March 1st at 10:00 am followed by internment services.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Twigs Thriftree, 449 Lexington Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY 10549 in memory of Virginia Sweeney for her many years of service dedication and support to the hospital and the community would be greatly appreciated.