Susan (Pope) Sweeney

Susan Pope Sweeney (70) passed away at her home on September 27, 2022. A celebration of life will be held on October 4, 2022 at 12 PM at the Lenexa Stake Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 21515 West 101st Street, Lenexa, Kansas 66220, with burial to follow in Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.

Susan was born on January 17, 1952, in Salmon, Idaho to James Carol Pope and Dorothy Cleo Anderson Pope. Susan grew up in Salmon, Idaho until she was 12 years old. Her family then moved to Carlsbad, California where she graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1970. She accomplished her goals of studying under a concert pianist and was able to travel to St. Louis School of Music during the summer. She also obtained her cosmetology license before graduating from high school. After high school, she attended BYU in Provo, Utah and later graduated from Webster University with a Bachelors of Arts in Management. On February 1, 1975, Susan married her sweetheart, Charles Jeffery Sweeney, in the Los Angeles Temple for time and all eternity.

Susan was dedicated to serving her family, church, and community. As a mom of four busy boys, she was a soccer coach, Cub Scout leader, and wrangler of neighborhood kids. She served in the St. Louis Temple and Kansas City Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many years. She crocheted many scarves for donations and she delivered Meals on Wheels in Olathe, Kansas with her beloved mother-in-law, Julia Sweeney.

Susan worked for General Mills for many years, and her sons and grandchildren frequently mentioned that because of this she always had the best snacks. If they were stuck in line or becoming unruly during a church meeting, Susan would have the perfect treat to bring a smile to everyone's face. She was a woman of many talents. She taught piano lessons, sang in the church choir, and cut hair for all of her boys and many of their friends. She surrounded herself with loved ones and nourished those relationships well. She loved game night and served a large "family dinner" every Sunday afternoon.

Susan was a fighter. Her health challenges started in 2005 with a diagnosis of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis followed by breast cancer. After overcoming breast cancer, she was blessed to receive a double lung transplant in 2014. She viewed her lung transplant as an amazing blessing from heaven. Throughout it all, her focus remained on the comfort and care of her family and others.

Family is everything to Susan. Susan is survived by her husband, Charles of 47 years, her four sons, Charles Alden (Edee), J. Adam (Tammy), Orin, Jimmy (Janelle), and Gina. Her fourteen grandchildren: Colby Beggs, Camryn Beggs, Audrey, C. Alex, Kimbal, Catherine, Jillian, Brigham, Sawyer, Emily, Alden, Harper, Holland, Mack Sweeney and a great grandchild, Augustus McMillan. Susan is survived by her brother, C. Lorenzo Pope, and favorite sister, Erma Pope Foltz, her mother-in-law, Julia Sweeney, sister-in-law, Janis Sweeney, and cherished cousins, nephews and nieces. Susan was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, James Anderson Pope and Paul Ross Pope.

Susan requested that everyone consider being an organ donor. Susan's double lung transplant provided her 8 more years of being with her family and creating memories. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to: National Foundation for Transplants: donate.transplants.org. To leave a message of condolence for Susan's family, or to share a special memory, click on the "Share Memories" button above.