Deborah A. Sweeney

Deborah A. Sweeney, 57, of Saegertown, died Thursday, April 30, 2009 at UPMC-Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh.

She was born in Meadville December 6, 1951 a daughter of James F. and Anna May Lent Hunter.  She married Robert Sweeney, Jr. and he preceded her in death in 1984.

She taught 5th grade at Maplewood Elementary School and previously had taught 2nd grade and was a reading specialist at Saegertown Elementary School.  She also had taught at Seton Catholic School.

She was a graduate of Randolph-East Mead High School and received her Bachelor degree from Penn State University and her Masters in Education from Edinboro University.  She was a member of St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church and was a Lector.  She was also a member of the National Education Association, the Pennsylvania Education Association and the Penn State Alumni Association.  She enjoyed reading, bird watching, being a grandmother, Penn State Football and was an avid sports enthusiast.

Debbie was a widow for 25 years and was able to raise her four children and put them through college on her own.  Her selfless acts of kindness, generosity and love for her children and family enabled them to have a sense of security, stability and love.  She was a loving mother, grandmother, teacher and friend that will be missed dearly.

She was a proud mother of four children and 2 grandchildren: Ryan Sweeney and his wife Lisa of Pittsburgh, Megan Monaco and her husband Joseph of Corona, CA, Cailean Sweeney and his girlfriend Julia Hyjurick of Pittsburgh and Robert Sweeney III and his fiancé Kate Gonzalez of Saegertown; granddaughters, Scarlett Sweeney and Lindsay Monaco.  She is also survived by three brothers, Jim Hunter and his wife Janet of Hartsville, SC, Tom Hunter of Houston, TX and Jeff Hunter and his wife Berneice of Guys Mills; an aunt, Marian Shady of Meadville and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and a sister and brother-in-law, Sharon & Tom Creegan of Scranton, PA.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Richard Sweeney and her father and mother-in-law, Robert and Ruth Sweeney, Sr.

Calling hours will be Saturday from 204 and 6-8 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville with a Scripture Prayer service at 2 p.m..

Mass of Christian Burial will be Sunday at 4 p.m. at St. Agatha Roman Catholic Church, 353 Pine Street, Meadville with Fr. Ray Gramata, celebrant.

Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Meadville Public Library, 848 N. Main Street, Meadville or the American Cancer Society, 464 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335.