Theresa Bernadette Hegarty Sweeney departed this earthly plain on November 12 at the age of 95 years and 10 months and leaves to cherish her memory her devoted children and their spouses, John (Jeanne), Kathleen (Dan), Daniel (the late Debbie), Maureen (Peter), Thomas (Terryann), and Teresa (Steven); 17 grandchildren: Sue (Gary), Maureen (Brian), Mike, John, Colin (Jaime), Jennifer, Kristy (Johnny), Kimberly (Preston), Sean (Emily), Chris (Natalie), Tim, Kevin (Jen), Zoë, Julia, Gabe, Esmé, and Cayleen;10 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; her brother Edward Hegarty; and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved parents John and Catherine Hegarty; her siblings Frank Hegarty, Helen Claypoole, and Catherine Shoppell; and her husband of 54 years, James E. Sweeney.

Theresa grew up in Philadelphia and shared stories of pulling the rug up after dinner to do Irish dancing with her family. She married James E. Sweeney, Jr., on September 8, 1945, and moved to St. Louis with him to raise her family.

Actively engaged in St. Anthony’s parish while raising six children and working outside the home, Theresa never knew a stranger. To meet her was to be embraced with love and acceptance. Her motto was, we can always put another potato in the pot. Her pot was actual and figurative and, like Mary Poppins’s carpet bag, infinitely expansive.

Our mom never missed a game or a performance. At soccer games, she would run up and down the side of the field exhorting us to get the ball!

Theresa was also fierce, when required, and stood up for her children, her grandchildren, and her values. She often cautioned, “Don’t make me get my Irish up.”

We’ve tried to follow her lead in life. While we are heartbroken, we will uphold her legacy of adding another potato to the pot but will be ready to get our Irish up, if need be. We will celebrate Theresa’s wonderful life when family are able to gather safely.