Helen A. Sweeney, lifelong resident of Matawan, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at age 91. She was born in Rumson to the late Charles and Helen (nee: Kilcomons) Sweeney.

Helen attended St. Joseph’s School in Keyport and graduated from there in 1942. She continued her Catholic Education at St. Mary’s High School in South Amboy and graduated from there as a member of the Class of 1946. She remained in contact with her classmates from high school especially Joe Kilcomons (her “brother”) and planned frequent class reunions in the local area.

Helen was the owner and sole operator of Sweeney Florist where she took pride in her floral arrangements for any occasion. She provided floral deliveries to the Basilian Fathers of Mariapoch in Matawan as well as was involved with religious services and numerous functions and fundraisers there. Helen was very religious and was an active parishioner of St. Clement’s Church in Matawan.

Helen had several interests to occupy her time. She always had a dog by her side as well as fish in her pond and various birds in her feeders. She planted various flowers in her backyard and loved to garden. Helen sewed her own clothes, crocheted blankets and spent time doing needlepoint. She loved to plan and host family reunions as well as research, document and update the family tree. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and always kept up on the latest medical studies.

Helen is predeceased by her parents as well as by family members Delia and Leon Walling with whom she lived. She is also recently predeceased by her best friend Caroline Phelan.

Surviving Helen are her loving nieces and goddaughters; Colleen Phelan and husband Jeff Burkel, Cathy Hrehowesik and husband Douglas, Candace Neely and husband Thomas and children Sean, Zachary, and Ryan, her godsons; Robert Phelan, Jr. and Theodore Phelan and wife Michelle and children Ryan, Taylor, Samantha and Matthew. Also surviving Helen are many cousins, friends and members of the church community.

Family and friends may visit Wednesday, November 18, 2020 from 9 AM to 10 AM at Bedle Funeral Home, Matawan, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Wednesday Nov. 18th at 10:30 AM at St. Clement’s RC Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Keyport, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Clement’s Church in Matawan in Helen’s Honor and Memory. They were extremely good to her for many, many years and Helen would have liked to pay it forward to the community.

Due to COVID regulations, we can only allow 50 people at a time into the funeral home and masks are required.