Elizabeth "Liz" Sweeney Hackett

Elizabeth “Liz” Sweeney Hackett passed away peacefully in McLean, Virginia on May 5, 2021 at the age of 77. Liz was born August 15, 1943 in Bayonne, NJ to Mary (Campbell) and Edward Sweeney. She is survived by her children: John Hackett, Jr. of Steilacoom, WA; Amy Hackett of Silver Spring, MD; and Brian Hackett (Elizabeth San Pedro) and their children Johnny and Elly of Burke, VA; brother Edward Sweeney (Margaret “Peg”) of Jackson, NJ; sister-in-law Gertrude “Trudy” Hackett of Spring Lake Heights, NJ; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews and lifelong friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, John “Jack” Lennon Hackett, Sr., her parents, her sister Mary B. Lawrence, and her brother-in-law James Hackett, Jr., along with her beloved dogs Colleen, Bruno and Major. 

She was raised in Bayonne, NJ, in St. Andrew’s Parish. She went to school at Holy Family Academy and then completed Berkeley Secretarial School in NYC. Jack and Liz married in July 1966 in Bayonne, and then moved around the country and Italy with the Army. Liz was a consummate host as a military officer’s wife, and enjoyed entertaining other military families, hosting family and giving tours of Venice, Rome, Florence, Ireland, Washington, D.C, to name a few. They raised their children in New Jersey, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, Italy, Alabama, Pennsylvania and then returned to Alexandria, Virginia where she lived for 30 years. She loved the Mount Vernon neighborhood and enjoyed welcoming friends and family to stay at the unofficial Hackett Bed and Breakfast. She created great friendships with the Gibbs Girls and her Early Bird tennis group at Mt. Vernon Athletic Club. Liz played tennis for over 45 years and it was a great sport to foster friendships from Italy to Alexandria. 

Liz worked at Marymount University in Arlington, VA from 1991 – 2012 in the offices of Dean of Student Life and the Health Center. She was happy to retire to be able to travel and play tennis, and if she could combine the two, even better. Her son John surprised her for her 65th birthday with a trip to Paris and tickets to the French Open! 

The visitation will be 2-4pm and 6-8pm Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery