Joseph Anton Sweida
August 13, 1922 — August 13, 2011
Joseph Anton Sweida, 89, was born in Jerusalem on August 17, 1921 and passed away in La Mirada, Ca. on August 13, 2011, four days short of his 90th birthday, following complications resulting from a broken hip.
Mr. Sweida was employed with Barclays Bank for 43 years. He began his career with Barclays in 1941 in Jerusalem, where he worked for two years. He then was transferred to Barclays in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cypress and Benghazi, Libya, where he met his first wife, Maria Alagiagian, now deceased, and with whom he had five children.
In 1965 he immigrated to the US, and initially worked for Barclays in San Francisco, ultimately being transferred to the Los Angeles office where he specialized in international banking and served as Assistant Vice President. In the Los Angeles area, Mr. Sweida settled and raised his family in Montebello, where he continued to live after his retirement in 1984 and until his passing.
Joseph Sweida was an avid reader and was particularly fond of history, politics, geography and religion. He would discuss these topics and many others with his children, making for very lively and interesting discussions and debates at the dinner table. He also loved the horse races, carefully tracking horses and jockeys, giving good advice on which horses were most likely to win. In his younger days, he was also known to be a very good poker player. Although he had a mind for numbers, he also had a flare for art, and has left his family with many collages he created by painstakingly cutting colorful images from magazines to which he subscribed. He also loved to travel and to dance, and was always ready for a good party.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Montebello. Internment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery with a reception at the Montebello Country Club, where he used to enjoy having lunch.
Joseph is survived by his loving wife, Nora Isabel Murphy-Sweida, of Montebello, originally from England; his daughter, Lily Hopkins of Orange County; his sons, Victor Sweida of Lancaster, Alex Sweida of Claremont, Emile Sweida of Whittier, and by his daughter, Gloria Sweida of Irvine. He also leaves 7 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and his brother, Samir Sweida of London.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our online guest book.
Mr. Sweida was employed with Barclays Bank for 43 years. He began his career with Barclays in 1941 in Jerusalem, where he worked for two years. He then was transferred to Barclays in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cypress and Benghazi, Libya, where he met his first wife, Maria Alagiagian, now deceased, and with whom he had five children.
In 1965 he immigrated to the US, and initially worked for Barclays in San Francisco, ultimately being transferred to the Los Angeles office where he specialized in international banking and served as Assistant Vice President. In the Los Angeles area, Mr. Sweida settled and raised his family in Montebello, where he continued to live after his retirement in 1984 and until his passing.
Joseph Sweida was an avid reader and was particularly fond of history, politics, geography and religion. He would discuss these topics and many others with his children, making for very lively and interesting discussions and debates at the dinner table. He also loved the horse races, carefully tracking horses and jockeys, giving good advice on which horses were most likely to win. In his younger days, he was also known to be a very good poker player. Although he had a mind for numbers, he also had a flare for art, and has left his family with many collages he created by painstakingly cutting colorful images from magazines to which he subscribed. He also loved to travel and to dance, and was always ready for a good party.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Montebello. Internment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery with a reception at the Montebello Country Club, where he used to enjoy having lunch.
Joseph is survived by his loving wife, Nora Isabel Murphy-Sweida, of Montebello, originally from England; his daughter, Lily Hopkins of Orange County; his sons, Victor Sweida of Lancaster, Alex Sweida of Claremont, Emile Sweida of Whittier, and by his daughter, Gloria Sweida of Irvine. He also leaves 7 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and his brother, Samir Sweida of London.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our online guest book.
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