Dianna Louise Mann Sweany, 69, passed away on September 29, 2016. She was a lifelong teacher, mentor, friend and mother to not just her immediate family, but an extended family of students and friends in Indianapolis, South Bend, Louisville, Greenwood and Columbus.
Dianna was born Dec. 30, 1946, in Indianapolis, the daughter of John and Dorothy Mann. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy and Marian College, and received her master’s degree in mathematics from Butler University. At Marian, Dianna met her husband, John Sweany. They were married in 1969 and had four children. Dianna was a former full-time math teacher at both St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend and Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis, and she worked off and on as a substitute teacher throughout her lifetime. In 1985, Dianna moved with her family to Columbus, Indiana, where she began a 20-year career as a guidance counselor at Columbus East High School and was a longtime parishioner at St. Bartholomew Catholic Parish.
It was in 1992 that Dianna faced her greatest challenge, when her beloved husband John was killed in a car accident. People would forever remember Dianna’s strength, grace and love as she fought through grief and a debilitating liver disease to raise her family. Dianna’s nurturing extended beyond her immediate family to the stepchildren she called her own, as well as the extended family of Columbus kids who knew there was always a shoulder to cry on at the Sweany house, no questions asked, and came to know Dianna only as “Mom Sweany”.
Dianna was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy, and her husband, John Sweany.
She is survived by her husband, Dave Guck; sister, Donna Duhamel (Jerry) of Indianapolis; children, Brian (Robin) of Fishers, Jennifer George (Nick) of Portland, Oregon, Coleen Fleming (Justin) of Columbus and John Roy of Denver, Colorado; and her cherished grandchildren, Sophie, Jack, Connor, Arlynn and Maksim.
Visitation will be held from4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 4 at Myers-Reed Chapel, 3729 E. 25th St., Columbus, Indiana. A rosary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 5, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 1306 27th St., Columbus. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time at the church.
The Sisters of St. Francis at Marian and Oldenburg were at the heart of Dianna’s education, faith and love. With an increasing number of the Sisters reaching retirement age, there is an urgent need for adequate housing and healthcare. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Dianna’s name to the Sisters of St. Francis Capital Campaign, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana 47036.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-reed.com.
