Rita V. Sweeney

She lived her life with a sense of adventure and independent thought. She married a WWII veteran, John Sweeney, and was a wonderful wife and confidant to her husband for over 50 years. John left her to navigate her own path almost 17 years ago. She has rejoined him now.

Rita grew up in Massapequa Park, Long Island as one of six children with a large extended family. She lived in New York City as a young woman, and she then moved to Scarsdale to raise her family where she lived for almost 50 years. She was generous, adventurous, and fiercely ethical in spirit. Her home in Scarsdale became the place where international travelers, intellectuals, friends, and family gathered to share wonderful conversations at her dinner tables and many stayed as guests in the house. She made extra efforts to host and sponsor relatives coming to the US from abroad, and she felt it was her privilege and honor to help relatives who wanted to come to this country. Her father had immigrated from Ireland.

Rita was a wise, old soul with a terrific sense of humor and full appreciation of a good story. She loved to entertain, laugh, socialize, and be of assistance to people in any way that she could. She changed the world with her generosity of spirit, her love of people, and her ability to listen deeply to all those in her orbit. We will miss her beauty, strength, intellect, truthfulness, and deep spiritual soul.

Her passionate sense of community and generosity shared by her husband, John, has positively impacted her family, friends and community. We know their spirits continue to live on with everyone who they came in contact with, and we reflect some of that goodness.

Rita is survived by her 6 children: Jean, John, Peter, Thomas, Michael, and Roseanne. She also has 13 grandchildren Julia, David, John Joseph, Christopher, Marielle, Ryan, Natalie, Nicolette, Mia, Brian, Jonah, Tayech, and Tabech. She was also graced with a great-grandchild, Matilda. She previously lost her brothers Peter, Harry, and Robert and her sister Betty. She is survived by her sister Mary.

A wake will be held at Bennett Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 2nd from 4pm to 8pm. Address: 824 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale NY 10583. A mass will be held on Thursday, August 3rd at 10am at the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Church. Address: 8 Carmen Road, Scarsdale NY 10583.

In lieu of flowers, Rita would appreciate donations to the Covenant House (www.covenanthouse.org). Rita and John were supporters of Covenant House for many years helping homeless children in need of safe housing and holistic care.