Mary Catherine Sweeney, age 86, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away suddenly Saturday, April 28, 2012. She was born on October 12, 1925 in Springfield, Missouri to Max and Lillian Weaver. At the age of four, she became the youngest member of the vaudeville troupe known as "The Weaver Brothers and Elviry." Mary "retired" from show business after touring all 48 U.S. States by age 7 in order to start first grade. She graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1944 and then attended Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri. She returned to Springfield to attend Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University) where she joined the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and instantly gained a host of life-long friends. She met her future husband, John J. Sweeney, at the Newman Club. She later embarked on a twenty-two year teaching career at Cowden Elementary School. Mary was a devoted wife to her husband whom she cared for during his eleven-year battle with cancer which ended in his death in 1981. After her retirement from teaching at the age of 60, she pursued her love of travel with trips to Europe. Her travel to Hawaii and Alaska updated her tour of all 50 U.S. States. She volunteered at St. John's Hospital (every other week including last Tuesday) where she enjoyed many close relationships that she treasured dearly. She was an active member or volunteer with many civic and community organizations, which included The Springfield Symphony Guild, Delta Kappa Gamma, a charter member of The Living Art Group with Southwest Missouri Museum Associates, The Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, and public television. She truly enjoyed a wide circle of close friends who kept her energized with living a full and active life. She truly never met a stranger! Mary's pride and joy were her children and grandchildren. She always enjoyed playing card games with them during visits. She would always tell her friends the latest events in their lives. She is survived by her son Tim Sweeney and his wife Vicki Sweeney and their son Ryan of College Station, TX; her son Mike Sweeney and his wife Marisa Guerin of Philadelphia, PA; and her son Pat Sweeney and his wife Rena Sweeney and their four daughters Lilly, Catherine, Rachel and Megan of Springfield, MO. Mary also enjoyed the companionship of the "girls," Princess and Tiger, her two cats whom she adopted several years ago. The funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 pm Wednesday, May 2, in the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church with the Reverend Lewis Henja officiating, under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Tuesday, May 1, in the funeral home, and prayer service to begin at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Kitchen, Inc., 1630 N. Jefferson, Springfield, Missouri 65803, 417-837-1500. Mary was once asked if she had any regrets in her life and she answered that she had none because she had a loving husband, great children and grandchildren, and an outstanding assortment of close personal friends. She will be dearly missed by both family and friends.