Evelyn May Sweeney

SWEENEY, EVELYN MAY 1912 to 2009 Evelyn May Ellen Emily McCarthy Sweeney, 96, of Rancho Bernardo, CA, passed away April 12, 2009. She was born June 14, 1912, in Everett, MA, to Daniel and Lillian (Hughes) McCarthy. She moved with her family to Detroit in 1924. She began her professional career at the age of 16 at General Motors as a secretary. While in Detroit, she met and married Michael Laurence (Larry) Sweeney of Ontario, Canada. In 1943, Evelyn and their first four children moved to San Diego to join Larry who had obtained employment at General Dynamics. They had four more children while living in San Diego. She was president of the Theresians from 1962-1964, and was concert chairwoman for the Head Start Program from 1961-1966. In 1967, she went to work in the San Diego school system assisting foreign students with furthering their education. She retired in 1981. Evelyn's religious faith and her love for her family kept her strong throughout her life. She loved playing the piano, cruising, cooking, gardening, classical music, knitting, reading, Jeopardy, riding the rails, playing the ponies, and Christmas was her favorite holiday. Her proudest moments were each of her children's successes. She had a quick wit and a compassionate heart. Her wise counsel and loving spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is preceded in death by her father, Daniel McCarthy (Papa), her mother, Lillian, her sisters, Peggy Pelkey and Rita Fincham, her brothers, Dick, Dan, Tom and Jim McCarthy, and her son, Damon Sweeney. She is survived by seven of her children, Sandra Osborn, Rancho Santa Fe, CA; Mike Sweeney, Tempe, AZ; Connie Alexander, Danville, CA; Paul Sweeney (Crisi), Alpine, CA; Diane Sweeney, Rancho Bernardo, CA; Mark Sweeney (Marsha), Pleasanton, CA; Suzanne Horgan (Jerry), Apache Junction, AZ; and her 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandsons. Thank you for your lifetime of love, sacrifice, guidance and support, Mom. We will miss you so very much. Services will be held Friday, April 17, 2009, at 12:00 p.m., El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., Sorrento Valley, (858) 453-2121. A Celebration of her life will follow from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Maderas Golf Club, 17750 Old Coach Rd., Poway (858)451-8100. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or to the Disabled American Veterans.