Beverly Groff Sweeney

Beverly G. Sweeney passed away in the early hours of November 22, 2016 with her children by her side.  After battling Congestive Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease for the last 3 years she finally succumb to her chronic ailments quickly and peacefully.  Beverly leaves behind her brother, Malcolm Groff, of Long Beach, California as well as her two children John Sweeney of Dartmouth, Massachusetts and Susan Maher of Chappaqua, NY, as well as her 5 beloved grandchildren.

 

Beverly was born on November 7, 1929 in Los Angeles California.  She and her family headed East in 1936 spending time in both Nutley, NJ and Manhasset, NY until they moved back to Long Beach, California in 1946.  After a couple more years in California Beverly took off as a stewardess with United Airlines.  She recognized the opportunity of a lifetime to join one of the first teams of stewardesses in the early and glamorous years of commercial flight.  While working for United Airlines she was based out of Denver, Colorado.  These were her glory years, forming life-long friendships and making so many of her fondest memories, including exotic and exciting travels.  United ultimately transferred her to Boston where she met George C. Sweeney, Jr.  They married in 1957 and settled into a tiny Beacon Hill apartment. They would eventually settle in Concord, Massachusetts where they built their home and raised their children.  In 1986 they divorced, but Beverly remained in Concord.

 

Beverly was a quintessential Mother of her time, volunteering for many organizations including Emerson Hospital, The Concord Museum and The Garden Club with which she remained active even in her later years.  She loved to travel and introduced her family to the beginning years of Home Exchanges.  Their exchanges took them to England, Hawaii, Washington, DC, St. Thomas and Nevis where she and her children experienced some amazing and extremely memorable experiences.  But her favorite travels took her only 90 minutes away to the nostalgic summer community of Nonquitt, Massahusetts.  Beverly loved being surrounded by friends and family in this tiny and tight knit community spending days by the beach and evenings with cocktails and chatter.  As the kids grew older the summers in Nonquitt faded away until Beverly decided to introduce her grandchildren to Nonquitt.  She spearheaded rekindling old friendships, arranging rentals and overseeing summers in Nonquitt again that her grandchildren would never forget.  It was her happy place.

 

Beverly settled into her senior years in Acton, Massachusetts where she built new friendships and displayed her love of design in decorating her final home.  She took such pride in her interior decorating and style and loved to share her home with friends and family.  She also was a devoted grandmother to five spending many holidays in Chappaqua, NY with her two youngest grandchildren.

 

She was a woman of great strength and character.   She shot straight from the hip and there was never any question what was on her mind.  Her large personality, constant movement, intrigue and pursuit of perfection would leave an indelible mark on all whom she met.   She will be so dearly missed.

 

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Beverly at her residence on Sunday, December 4 from 12:00-4:00 pm.