Norma "Jean" Sweeney

Norma “Jean” Sweeney, 81, of Cedar Rapids died Thursday morning, May 15, 2014 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. A Funeral Mass was held Monday, May 19 at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial was in Saint John’s Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Jean was born June 2, 1932 on the family farm in rural Monona and graduated from Waterville High School in 1950. She married George A. Sweeney October 28, 1950 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church at Lycurgus, rural Waukon and George died January 19, 2007. Jean and George moved to Cedar Rapids from Waukon in 1950. Jean worked at Square D Company for 30 years, retiring in 1995.
Jean was an active and devoted member of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church for more than 60 years and also volunteered in any way that she could with both Saint Bridget’s and Saint Monica’s circles. She was a member of both the Visiting Angels and Befrienders groups at the church. Jean had also volunteered her time with HACAP, Mercy Medical Center’s “Barely Sick” Day Care for sick children so their parents could go to work, and the Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.
Jean was a wonderful cook and enjoyed both vegetable and flower gardening. She enjoyed canning and freezing vegetables, especially tomatoes, which she would give to family and friends.
She was a woman of great faith who tried to live her Christian values: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” She was a role model for her family for many of life’s virtues - honesty, integrity, respect and an incomparable work ethic.
Jean is survived by her children, Wanda (Everett) Baker of Cedar Rapids, Denise (Ralph) Blake of Phoenix, AZ and Gary (Lori) Sweeney of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren, Eric (Jodie) Baker, Cheryl (Travis) Mastin, Michael (Corey) Blake, Patrick Blake, Kelly (Nick) Rogers, Ryan (Tasha) Sweeney, Karlee (Kyle) Rodenkirk and Kellen (fiancée Baili Schamberger) Sweeney; eight great-grandchildren; and her brothers and sisters, Darrell “Bud” (Mavis) Mitchell of rural Monona, Jack (Mary) Mitchell of Lake Jackson, TX, Marlys  Leiran of Waterville, Richard (Lynn) Mitchell of Marion, Joyce (Pete) Kloeber of Flagstaff, AZ and LaVonne “Sue” Lodor of Breckenridge, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; and her parents, Dennis and Dorothy (Blietz) Mitchell.
Contributions in Jean’s memory may be given to Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papichkubafs.com under “obituaries”.