Harriet Ellen Best Sweeton, aged 90 years, of Ocean Grove, NJ passed away at home on Dec 10, 2023. Born June 11, 1933 in Philadelphia, PA to Harry and Tina Best. Raised in Devon, PA.
Harriet graduated in 1951 from Friends Central Quaker School in Overbrook, PA before going on to study Music Education at Temple University. She loved music and had the “voice of an angel”. During her time at Temple University, she sang under the direction of Elaine Brown including performances at Carnegie Hall. She attended concerts at the Philadelphia Academy of Music, including the Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy, and Arthur Rubinstein. Harriet studied piano from an early age and played classical piano beautifully on her Baldwin Baby Grand Piano. She loved Brahms, Chopin and Rachmaninoff and other Romantic composers. She sang with a number of local choirs for many years including the Monmouth Civic Chorus and the Shrewsbury Chorale. She also sang with church choirs including Tower Hill Presbyterian Church and Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank, NJ for many years.
Harriet was married to Jeremy Sweeton in 1962. They moved to NJ shortly thereafter. She taught in elementary schools early in her career before taking on the role of motherhood with two sons George and David. She loved being a mother and once said that she would have had a dozen children if she could.
Harriet loved Ocean Grove and settled there in 1998. She attended many worship services and organ concerts and other musical programs with Gordon Turk at the Great Auditorium for over 25 years. She enjoyed drives along the ocean too.
Harriet loved people and going out socially. Going out to dinner and trying new restaurants was a favorite activity. She loved going on day trips to Philadelphia, Manhattan, or locally followed by fine dinners out. When at home she enjoyed a cocktail or glass of fine wine while listening to classical music in the afternoon.
Later in life she was cared for by her son David who did his best to meet her demands for fine dining. She enjoyed watching good programs on television, mostly PBS with a dessert or dish of ice cream, coffee ice cream was her favorite. She lived out her final days at home just as she had wanted.
Harriet was preceded in death by her parents and sister, MaryAnn Murphy and is survived by her two sons George and David, daughter-in-law Carolyn, three grandchildren, Jon, Sam and Kayla and also three nieces, Lisa, MaryJo and Susan.
Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, December 14th at 10 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, 65 W Front St, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Burial will follow at St. David's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Wayne, PA. Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank, NJ has been entrusted with the arrangements. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to Church Farm School in Exton, PA website: https://www.gocfs.net
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