Obituary for Joseph R. Sweeney
Joseph R. Sweeney, age 92, of Elmwood Park, IL passed away peacefully on March 17, 2023, with his devoted wife, Bonnie, by his side. Joe was the loving husband of Elizabeth “Bonnie”, nee Culp, for 40 wonderful years; dearest son of the late Amanda, nee Reiner, and the late Leo Sweeney; beloved brother of the late Mary Jeanne (the late Bernard) Hovel, the late Leo (the late Jeanne), and the late Connie Sweeney, and brother-in-law of Thomas (Susan) Collins; fond uncle of Joseph, Michael, Thomas, Gregory, Mary, Jeanne, Peter, Cathy, and Janis Hovel, and Mary, Kelly, Thomas, and Albert Collins, and the late Stephen, John, and Leo Hovel; as well as several great-nieces and nephews.
Joe’s long life was filled with numerous adventures and travels. He would strike up conversations with people of many different backgrounds and made lifelong friends around the world. He packed a lot of living into his 92 years and always kept his love of learning. He recently resumed his study of the German language and joined a Zoom bible group. For many years he represented the Chicago Board of Trade as a staff member in the Education and Marketing Department by organizing and moderating seminars for academics doing research in the field of financial and agricultural markets. Joe, a former member of the Society of Jesus, loved his Church, his family, and his Chicago White Sox. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Visitation Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, IL.
Funeral services begin at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Friday and will then proceed to St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish/St. Celestine Church, 3020 N. 76th Ct., Elmwood Park, for mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s name may be made to USA Midwest Jesuits, P.O. Box 6713, Carol Stream, IL 60197-6713 or online at jesuitsmidwest.org.
Joe’s long life was filled with numerous adventures and travels. He would strike up conversations with people of many different backgrounds and made lifelong friends around the world. He packed a lot of living into his 92 years and always kept his love of learning. He recently resumed his study of the German language and joined a Zoom bible group. For many years he represented the Chicago Board of Trade as a staff member in the Education and Marketing Department by organizing and moderating seminars for academics doing research in the field of financial and agricultural markets. Joe, a former member of the Society of Jesus, loved his Church, his family, and his Chicago White Sox. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Visitation Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, IL.
Funeral services begin at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Friday and will then proceed to St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish/St. Celestine Church, 3020 N. 76th Ct., Elmwood Park, for mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s name may be made to USA Midwest Jesuits, P.O. Box 6713, Carol Stream, IL 60197-6713 or online at jesuitsmidwest.org.