Theodocia Anne Sweeny, 82, of Olyphant, passed peacefully at home on Friday, April 29, 2016. She rejoined her one true love, former Lackawanna County Coroner William Howard Sweeny, who passed in 1999.
Born in Jessup, Theo was the youngest of the late Alice and Joseph Rowland's five daughters. She graduated from St. Patrick's in Olyphant and was a lifelong parishioner of St. Patrick's Parish. After graduating high school, she worked at the Globe Store and Bell Telephone. She and Bill were married on April 24, 1954.
Theo's life centered around her family, as she considered it her greatest accomplishment. She was an immensely proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Above all else, she was a devoted wife who cherished time spent with her loving husband and their many friends. Her hallmark was her sharp wit; her vivacious and blunt conversation will be most missed by her family.
She was greeted in heaven by her great-grandson, Jude Theodore Zayac, who passed in 2014. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Carmeada Matthews, Vivian Miller, Alice Gardner and Clare Farrell.
Surviving are her five children, Florence Lawless and husband, John; and Howard and wife, Barbara, all of Dunmore; Theodocia Englund and husband, Per, Charleston, S.C.; Dorothy Jones and husband, Eric, Olyphant; and Billy and wife, Tammy, who resided with Theo; Her 12 grandchildren, Mariclare Hayes and husband, Kevin, Scranton; Theodocia Zayac and husband, Greg; Jack and Matthew Lawless, all of Dunmore; Amy Sweeny, Edinburgh, Scotland; Howard Sweeny, Dunmore; Patrick and Alexander Englund, Charleston, S.C.; Alice Jones, Billy, Molly and Jennifer Sweeny, all of Olyphant; and great-grandchildren Kevin, Nora and Jack Hayes, Scranton; Gregory and Matilda Zayac, Dunmore; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick Church, 200 Delaware Ave., Olyphant. Interment, St. Patrick's Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Michael P. Glinsky Funeral Home Inc., 129 Grant St., Olyphant. Those attending the funeral Mass are asked to proceed directly to church.