William L. Sweeney

P. DEAN HOMER FUNERAL HOME 206 WATER STREET PO BOX 1 DUSHORE, PA 18614 TEL 570 928-8163 FAX 570 928-8116 Email pdh@epix.net October 21, 2007 OBITUARY William L. Sweeney, age 57, of Dushore, PA passed away on Saturday, October 20th, 2007. Bill was born January 18, 1950 a son of the late Leonard W. & Geraldine Kinsley Sweeney. He attended St. Basil’s Elementary School and graduated from the Sullivan County High School, a member of the class of 1968. Bill enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. Bill married the former Sharon A. Smith of Dushore, PA on April 3, 1992. Bill worked in the construction field for over 30 years. He was employed by Tom Pedro, Al Curtin and later Frank Construction of Dushore, Pa. where he was the Job Supervisor until illness required him to retire. Bill’s knowledge was endless and the first one to help a friend on their own project. Bill’s quick wit gave all who ever knew him a lasting memory. Bill was a member of St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, PA and a member of Loyalsock Post #996 American Legion, Dushore, PA. He was an avid Blue Grass music fan and was a member of local pool and dart leagues. Surviving: Spouse: Sharon at home Sons: Shane Sweeney Dubois, PA Willy Sweeney at home Daughter: Angela Sweeney Philadelphia, PA Brother and sister-in-law: Daniel & Joni Sweeney Lovelton, PA Sister: Joan Stavisky Montoursville, PA God daughters: Veronica Stanton Seymour and Kara Pedro and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, John Sweeney in 2002. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 24, 2007 from the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA and will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. at St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, PA with the Rev. Bert S. Kozen, pastor, presiding. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Dushore, PA. Friends may call on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. and from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. Graveside Military Funeral Honors will be accorded by members of Loyalsock Post #996 American Legion, Dushore, PA. Members are asked to assemble and pass in review on Tuesday evening at 7:00 P.M. Memorials are directed to Southern Care Hospice, 190 Choate Circle, Montoursville, PA 17754 or the Highlands Care Center, PO Box 10, Laporte, PA 18626. To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to homerfuneralhome.com. EULOGY FOR BILL SWEENEY----- 1950 - 2007 GREETINGS TO SHARON, SHANE ANGIE WILLIE, JOAN, DAN, ALL OF THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS. I KNOW THAT BILL WOULD BE HAPPY AND PROUD TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT ON TUESDAY 10/23 AND WEDNESDAY 10/24 TO BID HIM A LAST FAREWELL. BILL SWEENEY- MY BROTHER IN LAW, MY FRIEND. A HUSBAND, A FATHER, A BROTHER, AN UNCLE, A COUSIN, A BROTHER IN LAW, A NEPHEW, A CO-WORKER, A FRIEND, AND KIND OF A LEGEND (IF YOU WILL) TO ALL WHO KNEW HIM. HE WAS A PROUD, PROUD VIET NAM MARINE WAR VETEREN OF 1969. ONE OF THE LAST FEW VISITS THAT I HAD WITH HIM, HE SHOWED ME A TEE SHIRT THAT HE HAD JUST GOTTEN AND IT HAD THIS WRITTEN ON IT "THE ONLY WOODSTOCK THAT I KNEW OF IN 1969", AND THERE WAS A PICTURE OF A WAR RIFLE ON IT. HE LIKED TO DRINK PABST BLUE RIBBON, SING A FEW SONGS, WATCH A CAR RACE, AND RAISE A LITTLE HELL, BUT EVERYONE KNEW HOW MUCH HE TRULY LOVED HIS FAMILY, HOW MUCH HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY, AND HOW MUCH HE VALUED HIS FRIENDS. HE WOULD LITERALLY GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF OF HIS BACK. WHEN BILL LIKED YOU, HE HAD A VERY CONVINCING, SUBTLE WAY OF SHOWING IT, THAT YOU COULDN'T MISTAKE. I KNOW THAT MY KIDS WERE VERY LOYAL TO HIM AND I'M PROUD OF THAT. BILL WAS ALSO ONE TOUGH DUDE! BEFORE I ACTUALLY REALIZED HOW TOUGH HE WAS, AND WHEN WE WERE A LOT YOUNGER, I DECIDED TO WRESTLE AROUND WITH HIM ON THE LIVING ROOM RUG AT HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE (ONLY ONCE). I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST I WAS ON MY BACK, LOOKING AT THE CEILING. ANOTHER TIME, IT WAS HUNTING SEASON, AND YOU KNOW HOW THIS AREA "CRAWLS" WITH HUNTERS IN DEER SEASON. WE WERE AT "CHAPPY'S RENDEZVOUS" AND BILL, HIS SISTER JOAN, AND I WERE STANDING TOGETHER. A HUNTER CAME UP AND ASKED JOAN TO DANCE. SHE TURNED HIM DOWN, BUT IN A FEW MINUTES HE RETURNED TO ASK HER AGAIN. SHE TURNED HIM DOWN A SECOND TIME. THE THIRD AND LAST TIME HE CAME OVER TO ASK HER, HE MADE THE BIG MISTAKE OF TAKING HER BY THE HAND. THE NEXT THING WE KNEW , BILL WAS SITTING ON THE GUY'S CHEST WITH HIS HANDS IN HIS THROAT. (HE WAS ALSO VERY PROTECTIVE). I COULD GO ON AND ON WITH BILL SWEENEY STORIES, BUT I HAVE JUST ONE MORE. THEIR MOTHER, GERRI, HAD THIS SNOWMOBILE, AND ONE WINTER, WE WERE TRYING TO GET IT RUNNING. WE WEREN'T HAVING ANY LUCK, BUT THEN ALONG CAME BILL. HE WAS ALL DRESSED UP AND WEARING A TRENCH COAT, BUT HE TOOK A LOOK AT THE SNOWMOBILE, FOOLED WITH IT FOR A MINUTE, AND HAD IT RUNNING RIGHT AWAY. HE SAID, " SINCE YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW HOW TO START THIS THING, I'D BETTER SHOW YOU HOW TO RUN IT". THE SNOW WAS DEEP AND IT HAD A FROZEN CRUST ON IT. HE GOT GOING ACROSS THE FIELD AT A GOOD PACE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SNOWMOBILE HIT A SOFT SPOT IN THE SNOW CRUST AND DUG RIGHT IN. THE MACHINE STOPPED SUDDENLY, SENDING BILL THROUGH THE AIR. INSTEAD OF LOOKING SCARED, I CAN STILL SEE HIM FLYING THROUGH THE AIR WITH HIS ONE HAND BEHIND HIS HEAD AND THE OTHER ON ON HIS HIP, LOOKING LIKE HE WAS DOING SOME ACROBATIC ACT. HE CAME DOWN ON THE CRUST, SKIDDED ACROSS THE SNOW CRUST TILL HE STOPPED, THEN HE GOT UP AND WALKED IN THE HOUSE. I THOUGHT WE'D DIE LAUGHING. I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM LOOK SCARED. I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF BILL. PLEASE KEEP THEM WARM IN YOU HEART. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD WANT. WE BID YOU FAREWELL, BILL. WE SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY. WE SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR PATROTISM. WE SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY TO YOUR FAMILY AND WE SALUTE YOU AS A FRIEND. "SEMPRE FI" Although the family asked me to do the eulogy, I was not permitted to give it at the church after the service. I prepared it to be given in Bill's presence, to comfort the family, to make them proud, and to perhaps make people smile a little bit at a solemn time. Mike Stavisky To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William L. Sweeney, please visit our flower store.