(From Buchanan Funeral Home)Mary Johanna Roesch Sweeney, lovingly known as Mary Jo, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on the evening of May 18th, 2025, at the age of 80. Born in Pierce City, Missouri, on February 6th, 1945, she was the beloved daughter of Raymond and Lillian (Hagan) Roesch.
Mary Jo was a woman of deep faith, fierce individuality, and the kind of wit that could make even a stranger feel like family.
She graduated from McAuley Regional High School in Joplin and chose to pursue an aspirancy at St. Scholastica Academy in Fort Smith, Arkansas, from 1959 to 1962. Whether it was her strong Catholic faith or the influence of a dear friend attending, she felt drawn to religious life. While she may have felt called to religious life, the convent quickly realized that Mary Jo’s particular brand of spark might be better suited outside the cloister. In fact, she was politely asked not to return—something that came as no surprise to her mother. It also became one of Mary Jo’s favorite stories to tell, retold often (and with dramatic flair) at family gatherings. Though the nun life wasn’t quite her fit (or theirs), she carried the spirit of service with her serving for many years, decades actually as a CCD and PSR teacher at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. She thoroughly enjoyed the role and has cabinets full of curriculum, just in case you are interested.
She later earned her English degree from Missouri Southern State University in May 1984, managing the juggling act of night classes, full-time work, and raising two kids. Her relentless work ethic and unwavering commitment to bettering her life and setting an example for her kids was no small feat—she basically got a minor in grit and a major in perseverance.
Mary Jo was married in 1964 to Richard Davenport, with whom she had two children. Later in life, she found lasting love with Michael Sweeney, and the two were married on October 3rd, 1987—a date that also happened to be his birthday, cleverly ensuring he’d never forget an anniversary.
One of Mary Jo’s proudest accomplishments was publishing her book, With the Sun in My Eyes—a nod to her daily commute to and from her job at Juvenile Shoe. She also worked as a freelance writer for the Aurora Advertiser, a role she cherished. A lifelong writer at heart, she filled dozens of journals with reflections, stories, and the details of everyday life. She wrote everything down—seriously, everything, so much so that her family often joked, “She has it written down somewhere,” and the dozens of journals around her house prove it. An avid reader, she also took great pride in her personal library, which she built shelf by shelf and happily showed off to anyone who walked through the door.
Among the many things Mary Jo was known for, substitute teaching for the Monett School District was definitely a highlight. Mrs. Sweeney was beloved by countless former students and she never missed a chance to catch up when she bumped into them. And if any “little troublemakers” decided to give her grief, well, the best part about being a sub in a small town was that she probably knew their parents and wasn’t shy about making a quick phone call.
She was a proud member of the Monett Historical Society, and volunteered at the Monett Museum on Saturday mornings, where her deep love of local history and gift of gab was put to excellent use.
Although Mary Jo was diagnosed with chronic asthma at the age of two she never let it slow her down. If you dared suggest she had COPD, then she would set the record straight and heaven help you! She knew most of the staff at Monett Cox Hospital and used emergency visits as casual social mixers.
She spent much of her childhood in hospitals, but when she was at home she used her imagination and her sense of adventure to build cowboy towns, climb trees, and often caused a bit of chaos—all in good fun or to drive her mother crazy.
Mary Jo looked sharp in red, which worked out well as a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Her love of sports was a way to stay connected to her late husband. The Chiefs gave her plenty to celebrate in recent years with some epic seasons and she loved every minute of it. Her 80th birthday party was even scheduled around the Super Bowl this year…yes the one they lost.
She later earned her English degree from Missouri Southern State University in May 1984, managing the juggling act of night classes, full-time work, and raising two kids. Her relentless work ethic and unwavering commitment to bettering her life and setting an example for her kids was no small feat—she basically got a minor in grit and a major in perseverance.
Mary Jo was married in 1964 to Richard Davenport, with whom she had two children. Later in life, she found lasting love with Michael Sweeney, and the two were married on October 3rd, 1987—a date that also happened to be his birthday, cleverly ensuring he’d never forget an anniversary.
One of Mary Jo’s proudest accomplishments was publishing her book, With the Sun in My Eyes—a nod to her daily commute to and from her job at Juvenile Shoe. She also worked as a freelance writer for the Aurora Advertiser, a role she cherished. A lifelong writer at heart, she filled dozens of journals with reflections, stories, and the details of everyday life. She wrote everything down—seriously, everything, so much so that her family often joked, “She has it written down somewhere,” and the dozens of journals around her house prove it. An avid reader, she also took great pride in her personal library, which she built shelf by shelf and happily showed off to anyone who walked through the door.
Among the many things Mary Jo was known for, substitute teaching for the Monett School District was definitely a highlight. Mrs. Sweeney was beloved by countless former students and she never missed a chance to catch up when she bumped into them. And if any “little troublemakers” decided to give her grief, well, the best part about being a sub in a small town was that she probably knew their parents and wasn’t shy about making a quick phone call.
She was a proud member of the Monett Historical Society, and volunteered at the Monett Museum on Saturday mornings, where her deep love of local history and gift of gab was put to excellent use.
Although Mary Jo was diagnosed with chronic asthma at the age of two she never let it slow her down. If you dared suggest she had COPD, then she would set the record straight and heaven help you! She knew most of the staff at Monett Cox Hospital and used emergency visits as casual social mixers.
She spent much of her childhood in hospitals, but when she was at home she used her imagination and her sense of adventure to build cowboy towns, climb trees, and often caused a bit of chaos—all in good fun or to drive her mother crazy.
Mary Jo looked sharp in red, which worked out well as a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Her love of sports was a way to stay connected to her late husband. The Chiefs gave her plenty to celebrate in recent years with some epic seasons and she loved every minute of it. Her 80th birthday party was even scheduled around the Super Bowl this year…yes the one they lost.
She sang off-key and danced offbeat—but always with the confidence of a Broadway star. A lifelong theatre lover, she even graced the stage in a few local productions back in the day. While cooking wasn’t exactly her passion, her cherry and pecan pies—and her famous hamburger pizza will be missed. She also earned the unofficial title of ultimate taste tester, happily sampling whatever was put in front of her. She dominated Jeopardy! from her recliner, played endless games of solitaire, and had an impressive memory for facts that were... let’s say, selectively useful—like obscure bits of history and, of course, Tom Selleck’s birthday.
Mary Jo taught most of Katy’s kids to drive, either because she had endless patience or because she simply didn’t watch the road all that closely. She had a window cling for every holiday (and yes, we do mean every), a deep devotion to chocolate and ice cream, and an unmatched enthusiasm for recycling, which resulted in a surprisingly robust collection of random scraps of paper, notepads, and Ziploc bags. Her love for animals ran so deep that she’d stop traffic to give even a fallen possum or unlucky squirrel a proper farewell—no gloves, no tools, just pure heart (and maybe questionable judgment). She loved her cats so much that getting a glass of water often required enlisting a family member for the task because disturbing a cat on her lap was simply not an option. If any animal lingered around long enough, you better believe she had it booked for a spay or neuter faster than you could say “vet appointment.”
She firmly believed tie-dye and the color orange were not just colors, but a lifestyle. She never turned down a margarita, or a hurricane, or a beer, or a…well you get the point.
Mary Jo was grandma to everyone she met. Whether related or just lucky enough to cross her path, she had a knack for making people feel cared for and encouraged. She faced life’s inconveniences with humor, rebellion, and a twinkle in her eye. She leaves behind a Motley legacy bursting with loud colorful memories full of love and laughter.
To honor Mary Jo, remember her mantra: “always do things with socially redeeming qualities.” Live with kindness and courage—whether that means spaying and neutering your animals, proudly wearing tie-dye, recycling, volunteering or indulging in chocolate and living every day with the sun in your eyes.
Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents; husband Michael Sweeney; daughter Christanne Davenport; and grandson David Davenport.
She is survived by her son Adam Davenport; grandchildren Katy (Ever) Velasquez, Shellbie (Al) Robertson, Deryk and Juliette Davenport; great-grandchildren Javier (Leslie), Angel, Secret, Briceyda, Kara, Amelie and Noeh, two great-great-grandchildren; siblings William (Susan) Roesch, Joseph (Gary) Roesch, Catherine Roesch, and Jean (John) Patterson; and a large extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins who she loved dearly.
She will be remembered for her faith, fire, and fierce authenticity.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Monett. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home with visitation following until 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Family Advocacy Solutions or Haven of the Ozarks. Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett, MO.
No comments:
Post a Comment