Joseph F. Sweeney

Beloved Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and WWII Navy Veteran

Joseph F. Sweeney, 93, of Lowell, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at High Pointe Hospice House with his loving family at his side.   He was married for Sixty years to the love of his life, Janet M. (Burns) Sweeney who was his whole world before her death on April 12, 2016.   

      A son of the late Francis W. Sweeney and the late Catherine (Secina) Sweeney, he was born August 4, 1927, in Plymouth and was educated in Lowell graduating from Sacred Heart Parochial School and Lowell High School in the 1940’s.  He then joined to serve with the United States Navy during World War II.  After his honorable discharge, he returned to Lowell and went on to attain a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry from Boston College in 1951.   

       He made his home in Lowell’s Belvidere Neighborhood and was a communicant and devout Catholic member of the Immaculate Conception Church. After college he began a career in the pharmaceutical  industry which spanned more that four decades.  In 1992, he retired after thirty five years of dedicated service from what is now Pfizer.  He was a member of Vesper Country Club and Long Meadow Golf Club.  He will be remembered as a tremendous Boston Sports Fan, especially of his Alma Mater Boston College; along with the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins, and the Celtics.  Among his many passions in life, spending time with his family is what brought him the most happiness. 

      He is survived by his children, Ann M. Augustyn and her husband, Noel, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Joseph Sweeney and his wife, Della, of Bradenton, Florida and Colleen Sweeney and her longtime companion, John Miller, of Lowell; his five beloved grandchildren, Matthew Augustyn and his wife, Megan, of San Antonio, TX, Monica Buck and her husband, Lucas, of Royal Oak, MI, Catherine Augustyn of Boston, Stephanie Fink and her husband, Bill, of Boston and Jaclyn Shepherd and her husband, Blake, of Marietta, GA; his five cherished great grandchildren, Sophie and Luke Augustyn of San Antonio, TX, Eleanor Fink of Boston, Ava Shepherd of Marietta, GA and Thomas Buck of Royal Oak, MI. He is also survived by his brother, James Sweeney and his wife, Constance, of Lowell, his sister, Theresa Brosnan and her husband, James, of Chelmsford and his brother in law, Robert “Ziggy” Burns and his wife, Terry, of Dracut; as well as several nieces and nephews.

      WHILE FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES AND WEARING A MASK, YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS 8:30 UNTIL 10:30 A.M. ON SATURDAY AT THE MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 NESMITH STREET, LOWELL 978-452-6361.  HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, 144 EAST MERRIMACK ST., LOWELL AT  11 A.M..  FOLLOWED BY BURIAL IN ST. MARY CEMETERY. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE CONSIDER A MEMORIAL DONATION HIS NAME TO IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH BUILDING FUND, 144 EAST MERRIMACK ST., LOWELL MA 01852 OR TO THE LONG MEADOW GOLF CLUB SCHOLARSHIP FUND, 165 HAVILAH STREET, LOWELL MA 01852.