Melba Mary Costello Sweeney

She was born April 25, 1926, in Keene, New Hampshire, the daughter of Belmiro and Marietta (Lali) Costello. She was a 1944 graduate of Keene High School. On March 2nd 1948, she married Norman Sweeney and together they established Norm’s Ski and Bike Shop. In the late 1950’s she was also an advocate in the Keene School District to implement aid to students with special needs. She also worked for many years in the Cheshire County Court House as a Stenographer for the City of Keene.

For many years Melba worked at the Cheshire Savings Bank, where she oversaw the School Savings Program. She loved to be around people: the diversity of her friends ranged from young children to her peers. She was always willing to share a smile and a conversation with anyone that she met. Melba was very devoted to her family and to her faith. She attended mass at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church.

In her younger years, Melba loved to make authentic Italian dishes from her family’s native roots: homemade ravioli, pizzelles and many other delicious favorites. Every day she read the Keene Sentinel so that she would know what was going on in the community, and she stayed aware of what was going on politically in our Nation.

She is survived by two sons: Daniel N. Sweeney of Glencliff, NH and Thomas H. Sweeney of Gilsum, NH, a daughter: Kathleen Sweeney of Keene, NH, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, her sister Giovena Savage of Bristol, CT., and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is predeceased by her former husband: Norman Sweeney, three brothers: Marino Costello, Hugo Costello, and Edward Costello and a sister: Elda Costello.

A Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 11:00am at St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene, NH. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street in Keene, NH. Family and friends are invited to call on the family from 6 to 8 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012, at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street Keene, NH.

In Lieu of Flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Checks should be made out to CFF and mailed to Kathleen Sweeney at 38 Howard Ct, Keene NH 03431. Or online at www.cff.org/great_strides/kathleensweeney7654