Sandra “Sandy” Patno Sweeny
ST. ALBANS BAY/ARCADIA, FL: Sandra “Sandy” Patno Sweeny passed away on October 4, 2023, after a brief illness.
Sandy was born on September 5, 1940, the daughter of Ellsworth and Pearl Patno of South Hero. She graduated from Milton High School in 1960 and went on to earn her license in Cosmetology from O’Brien’s.
She enjoyed working for Dot Trombley’s Beauty Salon in St. Albans. In 1961, Sandy’s sister, Ruthie, set her up on a blind date with Raymond Sweeny, the man who turned out to be the love of her life. On May 4, 1963, they were married. She took his name but always kept the spirit of being a “Patno from the Islands”.
Together they worked the family dairy farm and raised their three daughters. Sandy enjoyed the farm life, the chaos and shenanigans of the neighborhood kids, and the yearly camping trips with her family and friends.
In 1993, Ray and Sandy opened Bayview B&B and took in travelers from all around the world for 13 years.
After retiring, Ray and Sandy spent 21 winters at Little Willies RV Resort in Arcadia, FL. Sandy loved doing crafts, line dancing, and participating in clubhouse events/games, such as Roadkill.
Summers were spent hosting gatherings for friends and family on the large farmhouse porch overlooking the lake. She loved sharing her cooking, especially her baked beans, doughnuts, and cookies, with anyone who stopped by. In the fall, you could find her making crabapple jelly and tomato relish which, if you were good, you may find jars under your Christmas tree.
Sandy was a member of the St. Albans Bay Methodist Church and leaves behind many longtime friends from the congregation. Over the years, she also enjoyed meetings and lunches with her Home Dem and Red Hat groups.
Sandy was always an optimist and although small in stature was full of spunk. An example of this was her ziplining adventure at Niagara Falls with her three daughters for her 82nd birthday.
Survivors include her daughters and their husbands, Diane and Dave Messier of Colchester, Lynn and Mike O’Brien of Fletcher, and Debbie and Matt Ladd of St. Albans Bay and Alburgh; grandchildren, Samantha Messier, Kyle Crofts and his finance Tiffany Reed, Katie Irish, Brandi Maskell and her husband Ryan, and great-grandchildren, Kasen and Lennox Crofts and Sophie and Nolan Maskell.
Sandy is also survived by her brothers, Lee Patno, and Gary Patno, and several nieces and nephews. Sandy was especially close to Russ and Linette Kruse, Anita Titus, Gerry Leffler, and all her friends at Little Willies RV Resort.
In addition to her husband and parents, Sandy was predeceased by her siblings: Bud Patno, Fay Chamberlin and her husband Donnie, Elon Patno and his wife Ginny, Ruth Fienemann, and in-laws Judy Patno, Kathleen Yanney and her husband Earl, Bill Sweeny, Earl Sweeny, and grandson Corey Crofts; and dear friends Carol Livingston and Anna Hurlbut.
Sandy’s family will receive family and friends on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 4-7 pm at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 So. Main Street, St. Albans.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 28th, at 11 am at the St. Albans Bay United Methodist Church, 575 Lake Rd., St. Albans Bay with Pastor Seokcheol Shin officiating. Prayers of committal and interment will follow in the St. Albans Point Cemetery.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the St. Albans Bay United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 116, St. Albans Bay, VT 05481 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
Honored to be serving the family of Sandra Sweeny is the Heald Funeral Home, where messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com
