Attorney James M. Sweeney

HOLYOKE

Attorney James M. Sweeney, age 88, died on March 27th at home surrounded by family. He was the son of the late James and Viola (Tremblay) Sweeney. He is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-seven years, Violette (Cartier) Sweeney. Jim was a graduate of Holyoke High School, Class of 1946. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada, Class of 1950, having served as president of his senior class. He graduated from Western New England College’s School of Law in 1960 and was admitted to practice before the Massachusetts Bar that same year. Jim also attended the University of Massachusetts and Ohio State University. At one time he was employed by the Health Department for the State of Ohio. Before practicing law, Jim was a chemist for the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department. He was also associated with the late Atty. Stuart Waite as a title examiner. He was formerly a member of the Springfield law firm of Wilson, Keady, and Ratner, and was later a member of Bacon and Wilson, P.C., from which he retired in 2004. While in practice, Jim also taught classes at Western New England School of Law. He was the long-term president of the Ellis Title Company in Springfield. Jim was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Hampden County Bar Association, and the Real Estate Bar Association of Massachusetts (formerly known as the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association). He was a land court examiner for the Massachusetts Land Court. Jim was an authority in his field. Besides his wife, he is survived by his five sons, Martin and his wife Donna of Ware, James and his wife Susan of Holyoke, Christopher of Northfield, Joseph and his wife Donna of Granby, and Andrew and his partner Melissa Fila of Holyoke. He leaves his cherished grandchildren, Angela and her husband James Padden, Alyssa, Jessica, Laura, Kelly, Elizabeth, Timothy, and Tessa. He was predeceased by his sister, Shirley Ann Cannon, and his granddaughter, Jessica Lee. Jim also leaves several cousins, including Richard M. Sweeney, Martin G. Sweeney, and Catherine M. Moriarty as well as nieces, nephews, and friends. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, April 2, from 4pm to 7pm at the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, in Holyoke. Friends are invited to meet for a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, April 3^rd at 10am in Our Lady of the Cross Church in Holyoke. Burial will follow at St. Rose de Lima Cemetery in the Aldenville section of Chicopee on Olsen Street. Memorial contributions may be made to The Cartier Family Scholarship at Elms College 293 Springfield Street, Chicopee, Ma 01013, or the charity of one’s choice.

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