John A. Sweeney, 82, of East Hartford, beloved husband of Helen (Abo) Sweeney, peacefully passed away at Hartford Hospital on August 7, 2018 surrounded by the love and comfort of his family. Born in Hartford on October 6, 1935, John was the son of the late Alvin and Mary Elizabeth (MacInnis) Sweeney. He received honorable discharges after serving eight combined years in the Connecticut Air National Guard and the New Hampshire National Guard. John was employed as a teacher for the East Hartford Board of Education for ten years. He then was employed as a School Counselor, then as a psychological examiner and Testing Director in the Cromwell school system for 21 years. After retiring as an educator in 1988, he worked part time for both the East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department and Riverfront Recapture as a park ranger. John graduated from East Hartford High School, class of 1954. He went on to further his education and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Anselm College and a Master in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (6th year) from the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut. John was a charter member of the National Association of School Psychologists and a life member of the Connecticut Education Association. John was invested as an oblate of St. Benedict at St. Anselm Abbey in 1955. He was a faithful communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church in East Hartford for over 50 years and once served as a CCD teacher. Besides his loving wife of 57 years, John leaves two daughters and sons-in-law, Kimberly and Winfield Dobruck of Hudson, Florida and East Hartford and Kristin and Richard Bizier of South Windsor. He is also survived by a sister and her husband, Bettyanne and Edward Moran of North Haven; five grandchildren, Heather and Winfield Dobruck, Jr. of Holiday, Florida and Vernon, CT and Vaughan, Karlyne and Larissa Bizier of South Windsor; one great-granddaughter, Anastasia of Holiday, Florida; a nephew, Edward and niece, Kathaleen. John retired early so he and his wife were able to pursue their love of travel together. He was an avid reader and an active stock market investor.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 10th at 10 a.m. at St. Rose Church of the North American Martyrs Parish, 33 Church St., East Hartford. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. Calling hours will be held at the church one hour prior to the Mass, from 9-10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s name may be made to St. Rose Church, Parish of the North American Martyrs, 15 Maplewood Ave., East Hartford, CT 06108 or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. The D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of John with his family, please visit www.desopoeh.com. He now lives in perfect happiness in the presence of the God he loved all of his life.
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