Helen L. (Burgess) Sweeney

May 15, 1918 – Jan. 18, 2004

Helen L. Sweeney, 85, died peacefully at home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan.18, surrounded by her nine children. Helen Burgess was born in Wabash, Ind., with her twin brother Richard on May 15, 1918, to Harold and Eunice Burgess. She was one of eight children and was preceded in death by her parents, and by five of her siblings.

On April 18, 1938, in South Bend, Ind., Helen married Charles A. Sweeney. Fate brought Helen and Chuck together while she was a clerk at Walgreen’s and waited on Chuck while he was attending Notre Dame University as he was purchasing a Mother’s Day gift.

She is survived by three sons, Charles A.(Georgia) Sweeney Jr. of Granger, Ind., Michael of Bellingham, Wash., and John (Terri) of South Bend; six daughters, Barbara Peterson, San Diego, Calif., Beverly (Jim) Crance of South Bend, Susan (Bob) Evans of Champaign, Ill., Kathleen (Carter) Henrich of Bloomington, Ind., Peggy Sweeney Dennig of Orlando, Fla., and Sheila (Craig) of San Francisco, Calif.;21 grandchildren, Kelley Sanders, Mary Sweeney, Susan Stoll, Thomas Sweeney, Maureen Spielman, Kerry Kuzmich, Sean Spalding, Corey Evans, Matthew Evans, Ryan Sweeney, John Sweeney, Lara Cutshall, Erica Henrich, Heidi Henrich, Peter Henrich, Daniel Henrich, Thomas Dennig, Joseph Dennig, Kevin Dennig, Cristine Sweeney and Alison Sweeney;10 great-grandchildren, Tiffany, Kyle, Victoria, Jackson, Carly, Benjamin, Sarah, Liam, Joseph and Grace.

Helen was a member of the Christ Child Society and participated and lead many of their volunteer activities. She was also active in the Women’s Auxiliary of Saint Joseph Hospital. The family home on 1846 N. College Street was built in 1950 and was not only the family home but a gathering space for holidays and celebrations for almost 50 years. She loved to play bridge and canasta and was an active member of these card playing organizations up until the time of her death. Helen was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus. Interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the HICKEY Funeral Home, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, 574-289-1000, where a Rosary will be said at 3 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association, 810 E. Park Place, Mishawaka, IN 46546.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

08/31/2024 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248767309/helen_l-sweeney/photo