Obituary of Helen Ann Sweet

Helen A. Sweet, age 84 of Lebanon, NJ died surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at the Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington. Born in New York, NY, she was a resident of Lebanon since 1965. Helen was well known as the owner of Eaglecliff Danes where she followed her passion for breeding Great Danes. She was a founding member of the Great Dane Club of Raritan Valley and longtime board member and current president of Hunterdon Hills Kennel Club as well as a longtime member of the Newton Kennel Club. She was a lifetime Girl Scout member and was proud of earning her 1st Class Scout and Aviator Wings in the 1940’s. She shared her passion for scouting and camping by being a troop leader and day camp counselor during the 1960’s. Family was very important to Helen, and she was proud of each and every member. She was predeceased by her husband, Cliff in 1982 and by step daughters from an earlier marriage, Judy (Trogdon) Bishop and Jacqueline (Trogdon) (Santos) Gracie. Helen is survived by her dear companion, Lydia Strauss; her son, John William Sweet and his wife, Jill; her daughter, Ann Marie Sweet-Abshire and her husband, Talbot; her step-son, Samuel Leonard Trogdon; her grandchildren, John William Sweet Jr. and his wife, Kiki Kerds, Jaime Sweet, Jared Sweet, Jennifer Sweet, Marie Abshire, Tabitha Abshire; her step-grandchildren, Keith Pattison, Terri and Scott Trogdon, Ted and Roy Santos, Jean Robinson and Colleen Bishop, as well as their children and grandchildren. She is also survived by a great granddaughter, Jolianna Sweet. Helen is also survived by her sister-in-law Edna (Sweet) Vivian and Brother-in-law, Paul Sweet. Lastly, she is survived by her many nieces and nephews; those joined to her thru her marriage and those joined to her through enduring love and friendships with their parents. They know who they are and rest assured that “Aunt” Helen’s love for them was both tough and unconditional as it was for everyone in her life. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse, NJ 08888. Friends and relatives may visit with the family one hour prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Helen’s name through In Memory Of for the benefit of the Round Valley United Methodist Church of Lebanon (steeple fund) or the SPCA at www.inmemoryof-memorial.org