SWEEDA, JOSEPH J.

Joseph J. Sweeda, 79, of West Bergh Street, Hudson section of Plains Township, died Friday [January 4, 2002] in New Jersey.

Born in the Hudson section of Plains Township, he was a son of the late John and Anna (Nowak) Sweeda. He was a 1940 graduate of Plains Memorial High School, 1950 graduate of Mansfield University and received his master’s of education degree from Alfred University, New York, in 1952. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps before World War II and was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, serving with the First Marine Raider Battalion in the South Pacific. He was attached to the Amphibious Corps, serving under Col. Edson, and was on the first assaults of Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He received two Purple Hearts, among many other decorations and later was a drill instructor in Quantico, Va., until his discharge. He was a teacher for the New York State Reformatory, Elmira, N.Y., for over 25 years, until retiring. He was a member of St. Joseph Church, Hudson, and first president of the Hudson Servicemen’s Association.

He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Jane McNeil; brother, Edward F.; and sister, Isabelle Yanaitis.

Surviving are his sisters, Sylvia Loferski, Providence, R.I.; and Irene Latosek, Kendall Park, N.J., with whom he resided; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday from the Mark V. Yanaitis Funeral Home, 55 Stark St., Plains Township, with a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Plains Township. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton, Kingston Township. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Church.