Esther Mae Sweeney

SOLANA BEACH — Esther Mae Sweeney, age 102, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2022, in Solana Beach, CA. Esther was born on April 12, 1920, in El Centro, CA, to George and Ollie Erickson.

She spent her childhood in southern California, graduated from San Pedro High School, and later attended the University of Texas at Austin. Following her education, Esther joined her mother and her stepfather, who was in the Navy, to the east coast locations of Key West, New York City, and Portsmouth, eventually settling back in San Pedro. Esther went to work for Fluor Corporation, where she met the love of her life, M. Kevin Sweeney. They married in 1943 and settled briefly in Anaheim, CA. Being an army wife,

April 12, 1920 - May 11, 2022

Esther joined Kevin in El Paso, New Orleans, and Apalachicola, where he was stationed during the war. They later returned to Anaheim, where the rest of the Sweeney family resided, and started a family.

Esther was very involved at St Boniface, having served as president of the PTA, where their four children, Pat, Kathleen, Kevin, and Sean, attended. In 1962, the family moved

to Rancho Santa Fe, where they relished the experiences of owning a horse, raising chickens, and playing tennis and golf.

Esther went to work for Grice, Lund, and Tarkington, CPA’S, and after twenty-five years with the firm, retired in 1990. For several years Esther volunteered at the Church of the Nativity handling the bookkeeping for the parish. Up until recently, Esther read multiple books weekly, corresponded with family and friends via email, tackled crossword puzzles, and followed her favorite sport, the PGA tour, on television. Her continued ability to recite lengthy poems that she learned as a child amazed those around her. It’s Esther’s love of life, family, and friends that got her to 102 years old. Ultimately, her body could no longer keep up with her brilliant mind, keen wit, and vibrant spirit.

Esther is survived by her daughter Kathleen Rodman and son-in-law Ira, son Sean Sweeney and daughter-in-law Rosemary, daughter-inlaw Pam Sweeney, ten grandchildren, twentytwo great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Kevin, sons Pat and Kevin, and her sister Dorothy.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, on Saturday, June 18th, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. A reception will immediately follow.

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