Eileen M. Sweeney (nee Callaghan), 83, a longtime resident of North Riverside, died March 20, 2012.
She was born on Chicago’s West Side to Denis and Mary Ellen (nee O’Donoghue) Callaghan of Kenmare Co., Kerry, Ireland. She married Timothy Sweeney, and the couple raised six children.
Ms. Sweeney was a “room mother extraordinaire” at Mater Christi School in North Riverside and Our Lady Help of Christians School in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and was a past officer of their mothers’ clubs.
She and her husband, Tim, loved to play show tunes on the stereo and dance in the living room of their homes on Kilpatrick and Lawler avenues. She also enjoyed traveling to places like “Molly’s Cottage”; Ireland; Spain; Marco Island, Fla.; Phoenix; Michigan; and Galena.
Ms. Sweeney and her husband participated in the North Riverside Golden Agers and always planned the annual Christmas party and enjoyed the company of their caring friends on their block in North Riverside.
An avid reader, crossword puzzle solver and fan of the TV show “Jeopardy,” Ms. Sweeney also loved tending to her garden, especially her roses and the tomato plants her husband was fond of.
Ms. Sweeney was the mother of Mary Eileen (Dave Harrington) Sweeney, Tim (Terry) Sweeney, Dennis (Tom Benthien) Sweeney, Terry (Peg) Sweeney, Tricia (Bob) Jean and Karen (Jim) Schram; the grandmother of Tim Sweeney III, Brian (Sarah) Sweeney, Patrick Sweeney, Molly Sweeney, Marty Sweeney, Colleen Sweeney, terry Sweeney and Nora Sweeney; the sister of Dennis Callaghan and the late John Callaghan; the sister-in-law of Margaret Sweeney; and the special cousin of Fran McDermott.
Funeral services have been held.
Memorial donations are appreciated to The Mercy Home for Boys and Girls or a charity of choice.
Ivins/Moracevek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.
