| Date of Birth | November 18, 1926 |
| Passed Away | May 24, 2019 |
| Place of Residence | Avoca |
| Home State | N.Y. |
Sally Lou Swick Cleeves
AVOCA – Sally Lou Swick Cleeves, 92, passed away peacefully, with her loving family surrounding her, on Friday (May 24, 2019).
Sally was born November 18, 1926 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. to Harold and
Mildred Swick. As Sally would say, “I graduated LaSalle High School, yes, yes, yes.†(in Niagara Falls). After graduating, she attended Alfred State College for Floriculture Merchandising and Business.
By 1945 the men were returning from war and were anxious to get on with their lives.
This is when Sally met her husband, Henry Cleeves who attended Alfred University until he
graduated with a master’s degree in Education in 1951. Sally and Henry married in 1946 and
lived on “Diaper Hill†for married couples with children. In 1951 Sally and Henry moved to
Avoca, where Henry told Sally “We only have to live here for one year while I teach.†And they
remained in Avoca for 67 years, raising their four children.
Sally worked for many years for Dick Goodrich and the Avoca Central School. Until she retired
in 1992. Sally enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, flower arranging, watching her Buffalo
hockey team (The Sabers), watching baseball, and most of all spending time with her children,
grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Sally is predeceased by her husband, Henry Cleeves who passed in 1998; her parents, Mildred and Harold Swick; three brothers: Robert Swick (who was killed at the beginning of WWII at sea, on the Atlanta, a sister ship to the Juneau, with the five Sullivans), William Swick and Donald Swick; also two sisters, Susan Spear and infant Betty Swick.
Sally is survived by Robert (Barbara) Cleeves, Candice (Carl) Dockstater, Cathleen (David)
Hopkins, William (Judy) Cleeves, and “wanna be brother,†Tim Gilbert; 11
grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Sally is also survived by her three sisters- in- law,
Dorothy Swick, Jane Israel, and Susan Cleeves Shafer; as well as many nieces
and nephews. We cannot omit all the “other kids†in the neighborhood (and you know who you
are) who spent a lot of time at her home on Charlesworth Ave. for dinner, snacks, overnights, to
play ball games, or just hang out.
The family wishes to thank CareFirst for their guidance, help and support. The family especially appreciates and thanks Barbara Cleeves for the loving care she gave Sally and taking such good care of our mother.
Sally requests in lieu of flowers, please donate to either the Avoca Free Library, Avoca American Legion, or the Avoca Historical Society.
The Avoca Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Sally Lou Swick Cleeves.
Calling hours are 1-4 p.m. Sunday (June 2, 2019) at the Avoca Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., Avoca.
Online condolences or remembrances of Sally are welcomed on the Facebook page of Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc.
Sally was a special lady. She was always ready with a smile and happy to get in on a conspiracy. What a joy to have known her.
Rick, Susan, and I are sending our sincere condolences to the entire family. You all are in our prayers as we celebrate her life among us and will be remembered fondly for her clever wit and friendly manner.
The part about only living in Avoca for a year sounds familiar. I told Peyton the same thing about our first condo that we lived in for 7+ years…