NAZARETH, Pa. — Violet H. Sweet, 87, of Nazareth, Pa., formerly of Madison, N.J., died Sunday, Oct. 28, at Moravian Hall Square, a retirement community in Nazareth, where she had resided for 12 years.
She was born in Timmins, Ontario, March 27, 1925, the youngest of seven children of the late Scammon and Natalie Hoyt. She grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and, as a young woman, worked as an instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studios. One of her students was Howard O. Sweet, formerly of Strong. The two fell in love and married at her home in Manhattan on June 7, 1947.
The couple moved to the Washington, D,C., area, where they started a family and lived for 15 years. In 1962, the family moved to Madison, N.J. After raising five children, Mrs. Sweet worked in accounting for a number of years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Madison, N.J. In 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Sweet moved to Moravian Hall Square.
Violet was a devoted, loving mother, who thoroughly enjoyed her children and loved spending time with her family. She cared deeply for those less fortunate than her, as evidenced by her generosity to causes related to child and animal welfare, as well as her volunteer work at Pine Acres nursing home in Madison, where she often chose to spend time with residents who had no other visitors. Violet was known for her love of music and her beautiful singing voice, which she freely shared until her final weeks.
She is survived by her five children, Barbara Stein, Clarks Green, Pa., Judith Sweet Bryant, San Francisco, Calif., Carol Sweet, Gloucester, Mass., Meribah Reitz and husband, Merle, Pottstown, Pa., and Howard H. Sweet and wife, Elizabeth, Charlotte, N.C.; 11 grandchildren, Matthew and Michael Stein, Tamika, Naima and Liana Bryant, Janelle, Bevan, Grant and Lauren Reitz, Mercy and Oscar Sweet; and a great-grandchild, Isaiah Bryant-Martinez.
In addition to her husband, who died in 2006; Mrs. Sweet was also predeceased by her siblings, Margery, Deming, Bob,Teddy, Barbara and Donald Hoyt.
Online condolences may be left at www. schislerfuneralhomes.com/obituaries.htm.
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