Over the weekend, the deaths of a few small company owners were announced. Although she passed away in April, it was reported Joan Heaney of Upper Brookville, Long Island, NY, an integral part of oil delivery company Skaggs-Walsh Inc., died from complications from COVID-19. She was 77 years old.
Heaney was fanatical about completing The New York Times crossword puzzle every Sunday and appeared on, and won, several television game shows in the 1960’s such “Match Game” and “Jeopardy.”
Heaney grew up in Sunnyside, Queens, NY and earned a full scholarship to Marymount School in Manhattan and later Marymount College, where she graduated with honors in 1964. After their marriage in 1964, Heaney and her husband Peter grew the family business Skaggs-Walsh Inc. from a small company into a large and successful heating oil supplier. It was based in College Point, NY.
Heaney enjoyed bridge and served as President of the Matinecock Garden Club. She was a member of the St. Johnland of Kings Park Nursing Center Board of Trustees. She enjoyed spending time with family. She is survived by her son and daughter and five grandchildren. A memorial mass and service will be held at a later date.
In other news, Melvin A. Swithers, 87, of Nanticoke, PA, passed away on July 2. He was the President of Swithers’ Heating Oil Service in Nanticoke for many years until he retired
Melvin Swithers
in 2019.
He is survived by his wife Betty O’Donnell, who he married in 1957, as well as a son, daughter and grandchildren’s whose sports and activities he loved attending.
Swithers was a long-time member of Nanticoke Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, Irem Shriners and the Caldwell Consistory, Scottish Rite, Valley of Bloomsburg.
Viewing and visitation hours are on Tuesday July 7. For more info, visit https://dinellifuneralhome.com/tribute/details/87/Melvin-Swithers/obituary.html#tribute-start
