Patricia (Sweeney) Bannon
Patricia Ann (Sweeney) Bannon passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family and dear friends December 28, 2023 at the age of 83. She was born April 2, 1940 in Waukon to Ralph and Ileen (Birdsell) Sweeney. “Patsy Ann” was the second of eleven children in her family. She loved and was loved by many. Pat’s favorite saying was, “Let go, let God”, which she unquestionably lived.
After graduating St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon, Pat entered the religious life with the Sisters of the Presentation in Dubuque. During her time in religious life, she trained as a teacher and served as a missionary in Bolivia. Pat talked about this time in her life often and the lifelong friends, faith, and lessons she experienced. She was very grateful for this time in her life and the generosity of the Sisters of the Presentation. After returning from Bolivia her next calling was to be a mother and she moved to Southern California where she raised a family.
Shortly after marriage, Pat was the amazing mother to three young children and they settled in San Diego, CA. She served as a teacher and principal at St. Peter’s Catholic School in Fallbrook, CA. She then was the Assistant Superintendent of over 50 Catholic Schools in San Diego County until her retirement at age 75. All the while she raised three children and all that life brings with it.
Life and time flew by and Pat happily took on her role of an adoring and attentive grandmother, aka “Ama” to her six grandchildren. After receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer in early November 2023 Pat was able to spend quality time with family, friends and her grandchildren. She loved to talk with the grandkids, laugh with them, and watch them play. Ama taught all the grandkids to be kind, caring, thankful, grateful and how to love others and to be yourself.
Patricia is survived by her son, Matthias, and his wife, Kelly Bannon, and their two sons, Michael and Patrick; her daughter, Keelia, and her husband, Jim Meathe, and their children, Mason and Ella; her daughter, Maura, and her husband, James Hainsworth, and their children, Kaya and Marcus; her sister, Sister Raeleen Sweeney (CK); her brother, Ron Sweeney and family; her sister, Sharon Schulte and family; her sister, Sandi Sommer and family; her brother, Jack Sweeney and family; her sister, Fran Samuel and family; her brother, Mick Sweeney and family; her sister, Michele Sweeney and family; and her brother, Brian Sweeney and family.
She will be joining the previously departed Ralph and Ileen Sweeney; her brother, Tim Sweeney; her brother-in-law, Denny Samuel; and her nephews, Luke Schulte and Weston Jones.
