Sheri Irene Barnes was born September 22, 1942, and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She attended the Patterson Co-op High School then went on to the Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1963. She worked in both hospitals and private doctors’ offices. While in nursing school, she met Dick Swisshelm and they married in 1964. Sheri continued to work until having her 3 children – Susan, Lisa and Mark. She stayed at home to be the workforce and specialized in fitness at the YMCA. Sheri taught fitness classes, worked with sports and coached basketball. After the children were grown, she refreshed her nursing skills and went to the oncology department at Riverside Methodist Hospital for 12 years.
Sheri lived outdoors when she could. She played softball and basketball, joined running groups, learned to snow ski and water ski. The family started camping when the kids were 5-10. They explored state and national parks. The family bought a boat and enjoyed water skiing. After that era, Dick and Sheri moved on to cycling in several states. They went on many trips around the world and loved discovering new places.
Sheri is survived by her husband of 58 years, Dick Swisshelm; her 3 children, Susan (Billy) De Nies, Lisa Swisshelm and Mark (Mary) Swisshelm; sister, Beverly Barnes; her nieces, Erica Williams, Marie Norton and Anna Potoczny-Jones; and cousins, John Marman and Tom Weitzel. She will be greatly missed and appreciated for love of family, her determination, perseverance and love of adventure and discovery.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Saint Anthony Catholic Church, 1300 Urban Dr. Columbus on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 1:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to OhioHealth Hospice, 3430 OhioHealth Pkwy, Columbus Ohio 43202 or online at Foundation.ohiohealth.com/programs/hospice-giving; or Mid-Ohio Food Collectives, PO Box 182883, Columbus, Ohio 43218 or online at give.mofc/default.aspx?tsid=18866.
