Mary Beth Arnold

Mary Beth “Stick” Arnold (Sweeney)

I was born Mary Elizabeth Sweeney on January 12, 1960, to the greatest family God ever created. My body died on Friday, May 30th, after my most recent battle with Wilbur—the latest of my cancer cells—after overcoming earlier fights with Gus and Gert.

My parents, Ray and Marian (Murphy) Sweeney raised my nine brothers and me in Madison, Wisconsin. I was fortunate enough to share a life with my husband, Dave and our children: Bobby (Zach), Amanda (Justin), and Jason as well as my greatest joy: my granddaughter, Willa. Also, with my brothers and sisters-in-law, Greg (Kenn), Dan, Mark (Karen), Patrick, Brian (Susan), Gary (Nikki) Sweeney, Sally, Jodi, Ann, and Tami Botham. I am now with my Mother, Father, brothers (Mike, Jack, and Tim), and sisters-in-law (Dana, Karla, Kathy, Ester, Cheri, and Terri).

Also surviving me are my wonderful nieces and nephews (and their spouses and children), Colleen, Patrick, Katie, Ryan, Nolan, Brenna, Corey, Sean, Joseph, Jessi, Willow, Tyler, Shane, Tim, Scott, Grace, Roerick, Allegra, Kyle, Conor, Kelly, Brendan, Michael, Erin, Liz and Chris. Remember I love you oodles and oodles and save those $2 bills for good luck!

I graduated from Edgewood High School and MATC. I worked as an OB/GYN nurse and then at Blessed Sacrament and Edgewood High School. I also proudly earned a Black Belt in Karate, along with a degree as an EMT Basic. I enjoyed dancing and singing in the “MATC Singers”, Blessed Sacrament’s Encore and Edgewood’s EdgeFest Follies.

I ended my "paid" working career and worked as a patient advocate for the elderly and cancer patients, a vigil assistant for the dying, a Eucharist Minister to the sick, to serve and feed the poor, the hungry and the homeless. Activities at Blessed Sacrament, Edgewood High School, and the UW Carbone Cancer Center kept my body going until I could go no more. I truly enjoyed "living my faith" compared to "practicing my faith"!

I married my first and only true love, Dave Arnold, on July 30, 1983. It was the beginning of finding my life's purpose. God (and Dave) gave me my most precious gifts of all ... Bobby, my strong one, Amanda, my angel, and Jason, who will always be my baby. I am so blessed to have been able to watch them grow and to help them learn the importance of family, friendships, and the miracles of prayer and love. I was humbled to be able to raise our children into adulthood—and finally, to instill in them to seek and find their purpose while here on earth. They are the core reason that I was born. They were the reason I survived for so long. They taught me that I was exactly where I was supposed to be in life.

I also leave behind my special in-laws, Judi (Gary) Allis, Don (Tamara Ehlert) Arnold, Beth Arnold, Sandy Arnold, Keven (Cary Johnson) Schmidt, Wendy (Bill) Magee, Jack (Shantel) Schmidt, and their children.

To my life-long special friends and their kids ... Kim & Rich, Helen, Mary & Bill, and Kathy & Bill: I thank you for your unending friendship and constant laughter. Thank you to the many groups of cherished friends that have loved on my kids. To our Blessed Sacrament family, Psalms group, my beloved golf league, and the rest of my dear family and friends, you know who you are, know that you are loved endlessly.

Dr. Dan Mulkerin, Dr. Howard Bailey, Dr. Scott Ferguson, Dr. Toby Campbell, Mary Beth Henry, and all the other docs and nurses that I have met since my diagnoses; I'm sorry our paths had to cross because of cancer. The friendships we developed because of cancer are priceless and would have never occurred without my cancer cells, Gus, Gert, and eventually, Wilbur.

Please know I'm in a beautiful place and will watch all of you grow up, grow old and will meet you when you come home. This cancer did not win. I won. For when my body died, the cancer died. My soul is alive with Christ, His Mother, My God and my loved ones.

So for now, I bid you farewell, my family and friends. Please think of me often and know that I will be with you. I will be the hummingbird out your window, the rainbow in the sky, the butterfly on your shoulder, the cardinal in the tree, the dew on a flower. I will be there if you need me. Just look deep in your heart and feel my presence.

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. [And loved more than you know.] But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, l will always be with you.” - A.A. Milne (“Winnie the Pooh”).

“Oodles and oodles of love to you all.” - Mary Beth “Stick” Arnold (Sweeney)

A visitation will be held at Cress Funeral Home (3610 Speedway Rd, Madison) on Friday, June 20, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Rite will take place at Blessed Sacrament on Saturday, June 21, at 12:00 noon CT, with a preceding visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m.  For those of you unable to join us in person, please join us via livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXx3RhFHTUU

Following the service, please join us for a Celebration of Life at the Arnold home. Have a great time with food, drinks, music, and shared memories, just as Mary Beth would have wanted it.

Gifts in Mary Beth Arnold’s memory and honor may be made via check payable to the “UW Foundation” with a note to direct as a tribute to the “UW Carbone Cancer Center Greatest Need Fund #112909110”. Donations can be mailed to UW Foundation, US Bank Lockbox Box 78807 Milwaukee, WI 53278-8807. Memorial gifts may also be made online at give.wiscmedicine.org/cancer.