Margaret (Peg) Reilly Sweeney
Peg quietly passed away quietly at home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 20, 2020 after a very brief illness. She was 93.
Peg was born on November 16, 1927 in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
She was the daughter of Thomas and Florence Reilly.
She was one of nine children.
She was predeceased by her parents and siblings, Francis Reilly, Joseph Reilly, Jean Conway, Florence George, Phyllis Stewart, Ann Hanlon and Alice Doan.
She attended St. Agnes School in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She graduated in 1945.
In 1946 she met James Sweeney Jr. They were married in 1947. They lived in Chester, Pennsylvania.
In 1957, Peg and Jim started their own business, Sweeney’s Bakery in Wilmington, Delaware. Though the early years were lean and slow, the business became successful in the 1960’s. Sweeney’s Bakery remained a north Wilmington staple until 2018.
Peg was the manager, worked the counter and greeted customers at the bakery.
She remained working at the bakery until she was 90. Among her favorite things to do at the bakery were making cookie trays, greeting and chatting up customers (especially the children) and telling her son what a great job he was doing!
Her other interests were traveling, doing puzzles and feeding her beloved squirrels and birds that knocked on her kitchen window every morning.
Peg was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, James Sweeney Jr.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathy and son-in-law Norman Reynolds.
Her son, James Sweeney III and son-in-law Mike Pellicone.
Her grandson Eric Reynolds, his wife, Dana and Peg’s great granddaughter,
Eleanor (Ellie) Sweeney Reynolds.
Her grandson Mark and his wife Megan.
She is also survived by her brother, James Reilly. And her beloved sister-in-law and friend Josephine Petrea.
Plus, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and longtime friends who meant the world to her.
There will be a memorial mass on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 11:00 at The Church of the Holy Child.
Visitation will start at 10:30 am at the church at 2500 Naamans Road Wilmington, Delaware 19810.
Following a brief reception afterwards at the church, a mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Agnes Cemetery at 1050 Pottstown Pike, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Jacques Cousteau Society and the Food Bank of Delaware.
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