Maureen O'Donnell Sweeney

Born in Malden, Massachusetts on October 25, 1936 to the late Elizabeth (Lily) and John (J.J.) O’Donnell, Maureen was raised in Houston, Texas, from the age of two. She worked while attending Pasadena High School. After graduating in 1954, Maureen continued to work in various positions until she married the love of her life, Russell Patterson (Pat) Sweeney, Jr., in 1959. Together they moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where Pat attended graduate school at M.I.T. They returned to Houston in 1961, where Pat began his architectural career while Maureen focused on family, giving birth to four children.

As her children reached school age, Maureen launched a career spanning the next 30 years that impacted not only her and her family, but pioneered a unique business model that allowed professional women to discover their own fashion sense. Maureen opened her first boutique, Secondhand Rose, in Bellaire, Texas, in 1976. To move beyond her resale collection, Maureen established Raspberry Rose, a contemporary retail store, which provided her the opportunity to offer lines of clothing that expressed her personal relationship to fashion, bringing her dream of customized retail to fruition. In 1983, she relocated to the Rice Village, where Raspberry Rose thrives today and continues to be a place where women come together to enjoy fashion and friendship. Maureen served as president of the Women’s City Club, an organization of female leaders and entrepreneurs in Houston. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston. She also offered her time to many other charitable organizations.

Maureen is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Pat; children, Erin Sweeney; John Sweeney; Todd Sweeney and wife Bonnie; Carrie Schwartzenburg and husband Kirk; grandchildren, Henniel, Daviel, and Viomarie (children of Todd and Bonnie); Luke and Natalie (children of Carrie and Kirk); her siblings, James O’Donnell and wife, Betty Jean; Jack O’Donnell; Arlene Baranda; Rose Licce; Betty Sprouse and husband, Richard; sister-in-law, Jean Dula and husband, Norman; brother-in-law, Mike Sweeney and wife, Corri-Sue; brother-in-law, Jerry Sweeney and wife, Ya. Maureen is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at a visitation on Sunday, March 25, at 5:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary service at 6:00 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston, TX 77023. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 26, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025. A reception will immediately follow in the church reception hall (MJFC). The burial will follow the reception at 2:30 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale. Please consider a donation to Sheltering Arms Day Center, 3838 Aberdeen Way, Houston, TX 77025, in lieu of flowers.