In Memory of Barbara M. Sweeney

Obituary

Barbara Marie Sweeney, 82, of New Hartford, NY, died on August 19, 2020, at The Siegenthaler Center in New Hartford.

She was born in New York City a daughter of the late Robert E McHugh and Marie (Kilcommons) McHugh. Barbara attended St. Simon Stock high school in the Bronx. She worked for several years at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, where she met her husband Francis Peter Sweeney. They were married in the Bronx in 1959. While raising her children Barbara attended Utica College, where she studied journalism and creative writing, and graduated magna cum laude. In later years Barbara was a member and volunteered for the Chamber Music Society of Utica. She loved the opera, literature, crossword puzzles, and good chocolate.

She is survived by her daughter Susan M. Hamel and her husband, Gary; son Emmet P. Sweeney; grandsons Eli and Gabriel Hamel, and Dylan Sweeney Seeber; sisters Jane Manning and Kathleen Chaikin, her brother Robert E. McHugh; niece Eliza Chaikin Kenan and her nephew Paul Chaikin. She is pre-deceased by her husband Francis Peter Sweeney, her parents, and her brother Martin McHugh.

Calling hours will be on Sunday, September 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 at the Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford. A graveside service will be on Monday, September 28 at 11:00 in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Chamber Music Society of Utica in memory of Barbara.