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Kerry Sweeney, 65

By the grace of God, on a Veterans Day in Seattle in 1952, a baby girl was born to Ralph and Myrtle Reitan of Burien, Wash. For 65 years, Kerry graced the lives of all who entered hers. That grace will now carry on for generations to come. Her selflessness in support of others, not herself, the intensity of her love of family and fierce core values defined her. Today it defines her three daughters. She left us too soon. Our family and those close to her will forever need a will like hers to cope with this loss. She told us her wish was that we muster the strength to do just that.

Kerry was raised in the Gregory Heights neighborhood of Burien, in a family that honored their second generation Norwegian-American descent. She graduated from Highline High School in 1971. When they met in 1970, her blonde hair, blue eyes and stunning beauty made the lucky man she would marry think of her as “out of his league.” He therefore didn’t pursue her. She pursued him for some reason. Together 48 years since then, and married for 44, it was joked that when they met it was merely his eye catching, air conditioned ’66 Dodge Charger with fender well lights above Cragar SS wheels that impressed her. Her scent drove him crazy. It forever will.

Kerry became a registered nurse after graduation from Highline Community College at Wesley Homes in Des Moines, Wash. She progressed to supervision, and then to management. She resigned her management position not long after getting it. She realized her heart would not let her work distant from patient care. For 30 years her hands cared for the injured, ill and those who passed. Skilled hands, just like those of the so many medical professionals who cared for and treated her for the past five months. Her family honors the efforts and hearts of those who did so during her recent stays in the CCU at Spokane Valley Multicare/Rockwood Hospital, North Idaho Advanced Care Hospital (NIACH), Kootenai Health Medical Center and Hospice of North Idaho.

The health conditions, medical interventions and causes of Kerry’s passing on Sept. 16, 2018, are years long and complicated. They all emanate from a desired outcome elective bariatric bypass surgery in 2002, and a (then) life-saving emergency resection surgery in 2015. In effect, she died from malnutrition caused by nutritive malabsorption. Those conditions presented themselves in her life, her declining health and her passing in many forms.

Kerry is survived by her husband of 44 years, Michael Patrick Sweeney. During their years together they resided in Burien, Lake Tapps/Sumner and Auburn, Wash., and Post Falls, Idaho. She is survived by three daughters, Shannon (Todd) Woodaz of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Devan of Bonney Lake, Wash., and Claire (Michiel) Moore of Redmond, Wash. Kerry was blessed with four grandchildren: teenagers, Haley, Wade and Drew, and baby, Rachel.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you offer charitable donations in Kerry’s name to either:

Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, or Kootenai Humane Society, 11650 N. Ramsey Road, Hayden, ID 83835.

A celebration of Kerry’s life will be held near Seattle, Wash. at a future date. A celebration may also be held near Post Falls at a future date. Announcements of the celebrations will be posted on Kerry’s Facebook page at a future date, and on her tribute page on the website of Bell Tower Funeral Home, Post Falls.