Veronica Donovan Sweeney – Military Spouse & Government Employee

SWEENEY, VERONICA DONOVAN

Veronica Donovan Sweeney passed away at her Richmond, Virginia, home on April 14, 2001. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 47 years, Major General Arthur Hamilton Sweeney, Jr., retired Army officer (of Parkersubrg, West Virginia), a highly decorated veteran of World War II and Vietnam.

Veronica, born in Sudney, Australia, the daughter of the late James O’Donovan and Catherine Carmody O’Donovan of Limerick, Irelick, was a member of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Richmond. She was preceded in death by her brother, James Donovan and sisters, Kathleen Donovan, May Brophy and Doris Anthony of Sydney, Australia.

Mrs. Sweeney had an illustrious career with the United States Army during World War II in the Pacific with the Commanding General, Amry Base Headquarters in Sydney and later in Japan with the Commanding General of 8th US Army of Occupation under General Douglas MacArthur. She also served with UNRRA in Shanghai, China and Manila, The Phillipines.

On her arrival in the United States in 1948, Mrs. Sweeney settled in Washington, D.C. and served on the staff of the Indian Embassy; the Pakistan Embassy; and the British Embassy. Following this, she was employed at the White House as an administrative officer of the military aides to the President. This employment continued until her marriage to Major General (then Major) Arthur H. Sweeney in 1952. During her years as a military wife, Mrs. Sweeney accompanied her husband throughout his career assignments as attache to the American Embassy in Switzerland and to further overseas assignments in Cambodia, Germany abnd Vietnam, as well as assignments in the United States until his retirement at Fort McPherson, Georgia in 1978.

Following military retirement, they relocated to Richmond, Virginia, where General Sweeney was appointed as personal assistant to Louis Reynolds, and later as Vice President of Reynolds Metals International.

The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated for Mrs. Sweeney at St. Edward’s Chuch on Dolfield Road at 11 a.m. on April 23, 2001. Her remains will be available for visitation at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on April 24, 2001. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Virginia Mid-Atlantic Chapter, 11620 Busy St., Richmond, Virginia 23236, for application to Mrs. Sweeney’s ongoing project at the McGuire Veterans Hospital.

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Photo of General Sweeney
Courtesy of the U.S. Army

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