Cathy Roberts Sweeney

Cathy Roberts Sweeney, 72, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, January 22, 2024, at BridgePoint Hospital Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Her four sons were at her side. Cathy was the eldest of five children born to the late William Howard “Buster” Roberts, Sr., and Jane (Cullina) Roberts in West Hartford, CT on July 12, 1951.

After graduating from Mount St. Joseph Academy in West Hartford in 1969, she moved to Washington, DC to attend The Catholic University of America and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature in 1973. Following a brief stint working for the phone company, she would be employed by U.S. News and World Report as Manager of Administration, a position she held for 27 years, until October 2001. She then worked for The Center for Public Integrity as Director of Finance and Administration until June 2008. Finally, she worked with Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, CPAs as a Proposal Writer until her retirement in 2015. Throughout her lengthy professional life, she was a well-respected and indispensable employee and team member, and a highly regarded colleague and mentor.

Cathy resided in Bethesda, MD since 1979, first in the Sussex House on Battery Lane, and since 1983 in her family home on Huntington Parkway. She was a devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda where her sons attended grade school, and where she orchestrated them as long-serving altar boys, lectors, CYO team members, camp counselors and volunteers. While a working mom, she served as OLOL School Board President for a number of years. Cathy was also an active community member at St. Anselm’s Abbey School in NE DC where her sons attended from 1994 through 2009.

Known by many of her loved ones, and even her three adoring grandchildren as “Rooney,” she will be remembered primarily in her role as Mom; first to her siblings, foremost to her sons and daughters-in-law, and to the many children and friends who passed through the chaotic, but welcoming and loving Sweeney home. She was a great friend and confidant, maintaining friendships from childhood and college, and developing new and lasting relationships throughout adulthood. Her final role, which she cherished immensely, was as a doting grandmother.

She put on a brave face, and more than maintained her mental energy through years of health setbacks, never allowing her positive outlook to be diminished. She felt very blessed to have her life and was constantly surrounded by her family. She was a tough, vibrant, intelligent woman. An avid reader and excellent writer, she felt and thought deeply, and though she had the strength of her convictions, was capable of altering her perspectives. She was an open book and valued the truth more than most anything else. She could be stubborn and critical, but always fair and decent, tolerant and forgiving. She was buoyed by her Catholic Faith. She was known to talk for hours over the phone with her friends or siblings. She had the most infectious smile and routinely laughed so hard she would lose her breath, tears flowing down her face. She will be sorely missed, but carried always in the hearts of those who loved her, especially her boys. Rest in Peace, Mom, and may the Angels lead you into Paradise.

Cathy is survived by her beloved husband of 44 years James Patrick Sweeney; Her sons Matthew James Sweeney (Katie), Kevin Christopher Sweeney (Mary), Michael Patrick Sweeney (Emily), and Sean William Sweeney; Her grandchildren Jack William Sweeney, Emma Grace Sweeney and Owen Patrick Sweeney; Her sisters Connie Lazzaro of Cromwell, CT and Marianne Carroll (Tim) of North Windham, CT, her brother PJ Roberts (Irene) of New Britain, CT and her niece and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother William Roberts, Jr., and brother-in-law Steven Lazzaro.

Service arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers you are encouraged to make a gift to The Scholarship Endowment at St. Anselm’s Abbey School in her memory: https://ssl.charityweb.net/saintanselms/

Or donate in her name to organizations that she supported over the years:

St Joseph’s Indian School: http://stjo.org

Vietnam Veterans of America: https://vva.org

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad: https://donate.bccrs.org

Annual Fund Donation – Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School: https://bethesda-lourdes.org