Helen Sweeney

HELEN MAE SWEENEY

Cedar Rapids

Helen Mae Sweeney, 87, of Lansing, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away early Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016. Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Monday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery. Visitation for family and close friends will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids.

Helen was born Aug. 23, 1929, in Cedar Rapids to Joe and Olga (Andrle) Pisney. She was a 1947 graduate of St. Wenceslaus High School and attended Mount Mercy College. Helen was employed by the Cedar Rapids Public Library extension on 16th Avenue SW and at United State Bank in Czech Village.

She married Connie Joe Sweeney on Feb. 26, 1949, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They farmed near Waukon for two years before moving back to Cedar Rapids, where she devoted her life to raising their four children.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Joan Morandi (Larry) of Aurora, Colo.; sons, Larry (Deb) of Lansing, Richard of Monterey Park, Calif., and Dan (Sherry) of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren, Matt Sweeney (Casey), Jennifer Morandi-Benson (Brian), Greg Sweeney (Heather), Brian Morandi and John Sweeney; and her great-grandchildren, T.J., Emma, Owen, Caleb and Justin Sweeney. She also is survived by her sister, Virginia Evans of Fairfax; and brother, George Pisney of Iowa City.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Connie; her parents; grandparents, John and Bessie Andrle and Frank and Mary Pisney; and her brother, John.

Helen's five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren were the joy of her life. She always was very proud of her Czech heritage.