Juanita Ann Sweeney

Juanita (Nita) Ann Sweeney passed away peacefully, on March 6, 2023, with her beloved husband, Jim, by her side. She quietly and bravely battled breast cancer, lung cancer, and a liver disease for the last three years. She was a fighter and never gave up hope; her mind remained razor sharp but eventually, her body just got tired.

After a recent irreparable heart attack, she decided to stop taking all medications and spend her last days saying goodbye to family and friends, joking, and enjoying an unrestricted diet with some favorites: chicken McNuggets, wine, and orange push-ups.

She lived life to its fullest and spent her last days the same way. She annotated her bible with, “I must just let God and nature do what they want. I’m not afraid of dying; it just might be another adventure”.

She loved to travel and spend time with family and friends. She described herself as a “fun-sun loving senior who refused to grow old and refused to grow up”. She truly loved being on an ocean beach (with an umbrella drink in her hand); vacationing and renting cabins with family; cherished her role as “Oma”; loved attending “Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre” performances; and was always up for a mystery bus tour.

Nita was a wise, ambitious, and loving person. She started as a hairdresser in the 1960s and from there, climbed the corporate ladder all the way to Vice President of Pedcor Management. Along the way, mentored and influenced many young women whose careers flourished under her tutelage. She was a proud “mama” boss and remained close friends with many of her “work sisters”.

In her last days, she shared many great stories about her life. She was ALWAYS ready for fun and hijinks. She told us about the time she, and a childhood friend, decided to dress up in their wedding gowns (because, “why should you only wear it once?”) for a night out on the town. After a heavy snowfall, she allowed her daughters to go to school late, because it was more important to drive through Shoaff Park that morning because it was so beautiful. She instigated a spirited game of indoor frisbee at a Dauphine Island beach rental. She loved playing the made-up family game of “monster”.

True to her energetic self, she was making lists of things for people to do, managing and organizing the house, and making her own final arrangements up to the end.

She is survived by her husband, James Sweeney; daughters Terri Kett and Sherri Rainbolt; stepdaughters Dawn Beadles and Tami Lee; grandchildren.

 Dakota Rainbolt, Molly Kett, Sean Kett, Hunter Beadles, Mya Lee, Maddax Lee, and Alexander Rainbolt; brother Dennis Emrich and ‘sister’ Sharis Sweeney.

Nita did not want a funeral or memorial service and selflessly donated her body to science under the care of the University of Michigan medical school. We will forever be “Go Blue” fans now.

Donations can be made to the Sheridan First United Methodist Church with proceeds going to the “Meals on Monday” program that she enjoyed volunteering for. Checks may be sent to Sheridan First United Methodist Church, 207 E. 2nd Street, Sheridan IN, 46069.

Enjoy the next adventure; we miss you and love you forever!

Everyone is invited to sign the online guestbook, share a memory, or leave a condolence at fisherfunerals.com.

Fisher Family Funeral Services is honored to serve the Sweeney Family

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