Lillian Florence Sweeney, known to most as Florence, to some of her family as "Tatee", and to grandchildren as "Ano", has passed away.
She had attained the remarkable age of 99 years. Some deaths are tragic. Hers was more like turning a page in that great book of life.
She was born in a boxcar. Her father was a railroad man, and in those days, they would outfit a boxcar, much as we would think of a mobile home today. She had sisters Dona Marie Hutchins, whom everyone called "Sug", Annie Simoncic, and a brother Harry Ward, all of whom predeceased her.
Florence will be remembered as a caregiver. Not in the professional sense, but in a personal one. She was a devoted mother to her son, Judge J. Miles Sweeney now living in Springfield Missouri. She later shared that devotion with his wife Karen, their daughter Beth, and their grandchildren: Phoenix Olivia and Miles Washington. But she also was like a second mother to others, like nieces Vickie and Judy, neighbor Pam, stepdaughter Marilyn, and friend Pat, to name a few. She cared for the elderly, including her sometimes crotchety mother-in-law who died on her hundredth birthday. She helped care for her brother-in-law, Harold Hutchins, longtime Crawford County Clerk, who finally succumbed to the terrible disease, ALS.
In her later years, she was a loyal and helpful friend to her companions in residence and staff while she lived at the Besse Hotel, the Stillwell Hotel, and finally the Cornerstone Village, especially her neighbor Virginia.
The attached picture shows her in earlier years, sitting on the side of the Parsons Dam on the Neosho River. She, and her husband of almost 50 years, John A. Sweeney kept a cabin there. They were a major danger to the crappie and catfish population. John was a lifetime employee of McNally-Pittsburg.
Florence served her church, First Presbyterian, as one of the first women deacons. Another was her friend, Avys Rae Hagman. Florence was also a children's Sunday School teacher.
Florence had a daughter who died at birth. At the advice of her physician, she never actually saw the child, but she and John named her Deborah Sue and buried her in a tiny grave in the children's section of the cemetery. Florence decorated that grave every year until she died. Her hope for the hereafter was that she would walk through heaven's doors and find John and Deborah, hand in hand, there to greet her.
There will be no funeral. Florence will be interred beside John and there will be a memorial service at a later date so that far flung family can make arrangements to attend. When that happens, all are invited to bring photos of Florence and related family and friends. Online condolences may be left at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.
|
|
|
Lillian Florence Sweeney, known to most as Florence, to some of her family as "Tatee", and to grandchildren as "Ano", has passed away.
She had attained the remarkable age of 99 years. Some deaths are tragic. Hers was more like turning a page in that great book of life.
She was born in a boxcar. Her father was a railroad man, and in those days, they would outfit a boxcar, much as we would think of a mobile home today. She had sisters Dona Marie Hutchins, whom everyone called "Sug", Annie Simoncic, and a brother Harry Ward, all of whom predeceased her.
Florence will be remembered as a caregiver. Not in the professional sense, but in a personal one. She was a devoted mother to her son, Judge J. Miles Sweeney now living in Springfield Missouri. She later shared that devotion with his wife Karen, their daughter Beth, and their grandchildren: Phoenix Olivia and Miles Washington. But she also was like a second mother to others, like nieces Vickie and Judy, neighbor Pam, stepdaughter Marilyn, and friend Pat, to name a few. She cared for the elderly, including her sometimes crotchety mother-in-law who died on her hundredth birthday. She helped care for her brother-in-law, Harold Hutchins, longtime Crawford County Clerk, who finally succumbed to the terrible disease, ALS.
In her later years, she was a loyal and helpful friend to her companions in residence and staff while she lived at the Besse Hotel, the Stillwell Hotel, and finally the Cornerstone Village, especially her neighbor Virginia.
The attached picture shows her in earlier years, sitting on the side of the Parsons Dam on the Neosho River. She, and her husband of almost 50 years, John A. Sweeney kept a cabin there. They were a major danger to the crappie and catfish population. John was a lifetime employee of McNally-Pittsburg.
Florence served her church, First Presbyterian, as one of the first women deacons. Another was her friend, Avys Rae Hagman. Florence was also a children's Sunday School teacher.
Florence had a daughter who died at birth. At the advice of her physician, she never actually saw the child, but she and John named her Deborah Sue and buried her in a tiny grave in the children's section of the cemetery. Florence decorated that grave every year until she died. Her hope for the hereafter was that she would walk through heaven's doors and find John and Deborah, hand in hand, there to greet her.
There will be no funeral. Florence will be interred beside John and there will be a memorial service at a later date so that far flung family can make arrangements to attend. When that happens, all are invited to bring photos of Florence and related family and friends. Online condolences may be left at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.
