Dr William B. Sweeney

Dr. William B. Sweeney, age 75, of Clipper Way, Bristol, died Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was the loving husband of Donna R. (Ruggiero) Sweeney, his wife of 52 years. Born in Providence, RI a son of the late William B. and Mary R. (Dorsey) Sweeney. Dr. Sweeney graduated from LaSalle Academy, Providence College, University of Connecticut, Clark University and the University of Sarasota. Dr. Sweeney was a professor emeritus of Economics at Bryant University for 42 years retiring in 2007. He was a communicant of St. Marys Church and a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society; he was a member of the Republican Town Committee, RI Economic Development Corporation, Weyposset Preservation Trust and the RI State House Foundation. In addition to his wife, he will be sadly missed by his children, Deirdre Coffey and her husband Kevin of Andover, MA, Maura Gorham and her husband John of Barrington, Patrick Sweeney and his wife Rose of Annapolis MD, Siobhan Wahlberg and her husband Lars of Tiverton, Eileen Craddock and her husband Steven of Cranston, William B. Sweeney, III and his wife Alison of Bristol and Timothy Sweeney of Bristol. Also survived by a brother Edward Sweeney of Wilbraham, MA and a sister Ann Mary (Sweeney) Booth of Pagosa Springs, CO and fifteen grandchildren. Funeral services were held from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, Saturday at with a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at in St. Marys Church, 330 Wood Street, Bristol The Rev. Barry J. Gamache was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist for the Mass. The Rev. Joseph McSweeney, S.S.C. and the Rev. John Wydeven concelebrated the Mass. Readers for the Mass were Eileen Craddock, Maura Gorham, Siobhan Wahlberg and Caitrin Coffey, Patrick Sweeney was the Eulogist, and Offertory Gift Presenters were Caroline and Isabella Sweeney, Georgia Craddock and William Wahlberg. Kenneth Bryant was the Organist for the Mass and members of the Bristol County Chorus under the direction of Joan Roth sang at the Mass. Burial will follow in St. Marys Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol, where Fathers Gamache and McSweeney read the committal prayers adn Daniel Aderholdt was the Eulogist. The following served as pallbearers, William B. Sweeney, III, Timothy E. Sweeney, Ryan S. and John S. Gorham, Brian and Kevin Coffey, Mark D. Ruggiero and Timothy O'Shea. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Columban Fathers, 65 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809 or VNA of RI Hospice, 475 Kilvert Street, Warwick, RI 02886.

Service Information Cemetery St. Mary's Cemetery Chestnut Street Bristol, RI --> Visitation Friday August 6, 2010 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sansone Funeral Home 192 Wood Street Bristol, RI 02809 --> Service Saturday August 7, 2010 11:00 AM St. Mary's Church 330 Wood St. Bristol, RI -->