Eileen Jacobs Sweeney

Eileen Jacobs Sweeney, 73, beloved wife of Wayne M. Sweeney and beloved mother of Jacqueline Sweeney and Sean Sweeney passed away surrounded by her immediate family on Sunday May 5, 2024. A lifelong and highly engaged resident of Manchester, Eileen was born October 7, 1950 the eldest daughter of the late Maxwell Jacobs of Barre, VT and Shirley Hoffner of Manchester, CT. Eileen had a charming and ready laugh, warm smile, and kind green eyes that comforted all who knew her. She was overjoyed to be a grandma to Quinn Sweeney, and cherished and delighted in her time reading and playing with him. Eileen had an enthusiastic curiosity and loved connecting and talking with others, learning, reading, writing, art/architecture, being creative, decorating, gardening, cooking, watching politics/current events, old movies, nature, animals, exploring new places, and collecting glass and antiques. Eileen was known for her loving and determined efforts on behalf of family, friends, people in need, animal welfare, and historic places in the Manchester community and beyond. An avid Beatles fan, Eileen was a longtime vegetarian and compassionate animal rescuer, champion for those in need of housing and social services, voice for education funding, access, and resources, and advocate for the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic landmarks and structures, as well as protection of green spaces at the local and state level. For most of her varied career arc, she served as the Executive Director of the Central CT Tourism Agency based in New Britain, CT coordinating and promoting programming and events in arts, business, and cultural arenas to support local and municipal organizations. Eileen was concerned with the aesthetic and environmental value of treed streets for shade, clean air, and beauty and was deeply committed to action for improving quality of life in her neighborhood and greater town for generations to come. Her commitment to the community over her lifetime beginning as a teenager who organized fundraisers, participated in the Manchester Committee for Peace and Justice, and fostered and placed shelter animals in new homes was emblematic of continued decades of hard work and action for peace and social justice. She leaves behind many dear family members and friends whose lives were shaped by her care and involvement. A wake with public calling hours will be held Monday, May 13 from 5-7pm at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, 400 Main Street Manchester, CT 06040 followed by a memorial service Tuesday, May 14 at 10am. Burial private to immediate family. In memory of Eileen, donations may be made to: Our Companions Animal Rescue and Sanctuary https://www.ourcompanions.org/ , CT Votes for Animals https://www.ctvotesforanimals.org/ . One Tree Planted https://onetreeplanted.org/ or Dolly Partons Imagination Library https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/










Services

Calling Hours / Wake
Monday
May 13, 2024
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Holmes Watkins Funeral Home
400 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040


Funeral Ceremony
Tuesday
May 14, 2024
10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Holmes Watkins Funeral Home
400 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040