August 16, 2022
Barbara Ann (Sweeney) Valente, a long-time Hingham resident, and proud former resident of Hull and Dorchester, died peacefully on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Sunrise of Cohasset. She was 82.
Born in Boston on August 31, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Charles C. and Sallie V. (Harris) Sweeney. Barbara was raised in Dorchester, attended local schools, and graduated from Dorchester High School.
Barbara enjoyed working on genealogy, taking walks on the beach, mocha chip ice cream, Benny Hill, traveling to Ireland and Aruba, and spending time with her grandchildren and dogs. Her most beloved dog was Denny, who died in 2018. Barbara was known to be a faithful Catholic. When she was younger, Barbara was a volunteer at St. Paul’s School in Hingham as well as a lunch mother. In her spare time, Barbara enjoyed reading, and was an avid book club attendee. Barbara traveled across the U.S. and Europe to attend genealogical functions, and was able to accurately trace her own roots so far back that she was able to join the Mayflower Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The most important part of Barbara’s life was her children and grandchildren. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for the people she loved and cared for. Barbara’s strength and fiercely independent spirit are part of her legacy that continues through her family. She will be missed by all the lives she touched.
Barbara was the beloved wife of the late Robert E. Valente, who died in 1996. The two shared many loving years of marriage. She was the devoted mother of Melissa Valente, of Scituate, David C. Valente and his wife Gretchen Stelzer, of Norwell, and Robert A. Valente and his wife Gina of San Pedro, California. Barbara was the loving grandmother of Charlie Claire Stelzer-Valente, of Norwell, and Olivia and Will Valente, both of San Pedro, California. She was the dear sister of Charlie Sweeney, Thomas Sweeney and his wife Joan, all of Hull. Barbara was the cherished aunt of Tommy and Suzanne Sweeney, also of Hull. She is also survived by many loving extended family and close friends.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Friday, August 19, 2022, 4-8 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), Hingham.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9 AM on Saturday, August 20, 2022, prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, Hingham at 10 AM.
Services will conclude with interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Boston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Barbara’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Scituate Animal Shelter of Massachusetts, 780 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy., Scituate, MA 02066.