Obituary of Sarah Jane Sweeney

Sarah Jane Givens Sweeney, 95, of West Woods Nursing Home in Niles, Michigan, died Saturday, October 16, 2010. Mrs. Sweeney was born August 13, 1915, to Florence Robb Givens and James Roy Givens, in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended college at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, until her higher education was cut short by the Great Depression. She later achieved an Associates Degree at Lynchburg Community College. Mrs. Sweeney's early adulthood saw her working for Skelly Oil Company in Kansas City, and then for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, California. While there, she met and married William Sweeney in 1944, a 56 year long blessed union that welcomed three children. Following WW2, the young family moved to Syracuse, New York, and then to Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1959. Mrs. Sweeney was an accomplished homemaker, and an active volunteer at Holy Cross School, Lynchburg Hospital Nursing Home, and at Bedford Hills School. She was a long time member of the 4-H and the League of Women Voters. Mrs. Sweeney enjoyed creating watercolor art, and served as a docent at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph-Macon Women's College. In retirement, Mrs. Sweeney enjoyed traveling, and with her husband, was an enthusiastic participant in over 100 Elder Hostel programs. Mrs. Sweeney was preceded in death by her Sister, Nina Belle Givens Lieberman, and her husband, William M. Sweeney. Mrs. Sweeney is survived by her children Sharon Sweeney Gleim (David) of Denver, Colorado, Dennis Sweeney (Betsy) of Centerville, Virginia, and Morgan Sweeney (Eileen) of Niles, Michigan, and by her grandchildren Megan, Peter (Katherine), and Joseph Sweeney, and Laura Gleim Zaharris (Justin). A Memorial Service will be held in Lynchburg, Virginia, on a Spring date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the International Hearing Society.