Karla Sweeney

After a remarkable 15-year dance with late-stage breast cancer, the luminous and beautiful soul of Karla Sweeney of Stillwater Minnesota, travelled to her new spiritual home in the early morning of February 12th. She was surrounded by the love of her family as she passed, smiling and dispensing 'final gifts' and sharing her joy for her imminent journey.
For 22 years, Karla was Director of St. Croix Ballet, Stillwater, MN. She founded the studio in 1991 in the basement of her Stillwater home and grew it into one of the Twin Cities top ballet and dance studios. She was a beloved mentor and ballet teacher to thousands of young dances over the years. She touched many young lives in so many ways. She retired in 2013 due to the increasing challenges of her illness.
Karla is survived by her husband, Brian Sweeney, Stillwater, MN and children Roerick Victor Sweeney, Bozeman, MT, and Allegra Melora Sweeney, who attends the University of Iowa. In addition, she is survived by her father Edgar Stein, Los Alamos, NM, siblings Karen Brown (Rick), Weatherford Texas, and Erik (Michelle Arias) Stein, Gaithersburg, MD, and by 61 nephews and nieces (including great nephews and nieces). Karla is also survived by best friends and first cousins Karalee Gutierrez and Holly Norton both of Albuquerque, as well as many other cousins and extended family members.
Karla Jean Stein was born and grew up in Los Alamos. After graduating from the University of Utah, where she received a BFA in Ballet, Karla danced in numerous professional companies including Ballet West, Santa Barbara Ballet, and several other regional companies in the Southwest. She then toured the United States, Mexico, England, and South Africa as the featured dancer with Disney on Parade Productions. Karla also had the fondest memories of dancing and performing the beautiful traditional dances of India with master teacher Viji Prakash Shakti Dance Company, Los Angeles.
In addition to her work with St. Croix Ballet, Karla also help found, with her husband Brian, St. Croix Montessori, Stillwater, and St. Croix Preparatory Academy, a charter school in the Stillwater area. Earlier in her career, Karla worked in Washington, DC as a staff person on the Senate Budget Committee, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and as a budget analyst for the Congressional Budget Committee.
Karla was an avid researcher on a wide range of subjects, with a focus and love particularly for the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Nag Hammadi texts and other early Christian manuscripts that were unearthed in mid-20th century in the Middle east.
Karla's 15-year late-cancer journey is one for the books. Defying all data and convention, she utilized a combination of complementary treatments, innovative cancer trials, conventional treatments, along with spiritual practices and faith that extended her time with us all, many, many years. Much of this journey is documented on her Caringbridge site.
The family wishes to extend their loving thanks to family members and many friends who have been so supportive in untold ways over the years and to those special caregivers, particulary Lakeview Hospice, who served Karla in her last year. A special thanks goes out to Dr. Charles Bransford, who was with Karla and the family for the entire 15-year cancer journey, including her final year with Lakeview Hospice, where he serves as Medical Director.
A celebration of Karla's life will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 N 4th St, Stillwater at 11 a.m. A luncheon will be held at Trinity after the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Lakeview Hospice.