Anna Sweeney

4/18/1952 - 9/26/2021

Chester - Anna Shubik Sweeney died at home in Chester, at age 69, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother; a devoted friend to many; and an indelible part of the town of Chester.

Anna was born April 18, 1952, in Chicago, to Virginia and Dr. Philippe Shubik, the second of their four children. Of her happy childhood in Glencoe, Illinois, she would remember the care of her loving and gregarious mother and summers spent at the cottage her parents built on Jack Lake in Ontario. In June of 1963, Anna and her father survived a house fire that claimed the lives of her mother and siblings. From this tragedy, Anna gained the lifelong trait of resilience. She often repeated the maxim, "life goes on," even after the most terrible events.

Anna left the midwest in 1970, to attend Smith College. At Smith, she earned a bachelor's degree in art history and a master's degree in education. She moved to New York City, where she first worked as a paralegal and then attended law school at Rutgers. At age 30, Anna met Paul Sweeney through mutual friends. They eloped five months later and remained married for almost 39 years, welcoming son Ben in 1985, and twins, Virginia and Sam, two years later.

Anna had a contagious and often absurd sense of humor and an unquenchable thirst for adventure. She was the beating heart of her very close family, speaking with each of her children every day about things large and small. She will be missed beyond measure.

Anna is predeceased by her parents; brother Roger; sisters, Jennifer and Carlotta; aunts, Irene Shubik and Julie Shubik; and uncle Martin Shubik. She is survived by her husband Paul; son Benjamin (wife Amy Todd and daughter Josephine Sweeney); daughter Virginia (husband Bartram Nason and daughter Magnolia Nason Sweeney); son Samuel; stepmother Valerie Shubik; stepsiblings, Kathryn Diemer and Peter Shubik; and cousin Claire Shubik-Richards (husband Seth Richards-Shubik and children Elliott and Leopold).