Obituary - Dora M. Sweeney

Monday, October 1, 2001
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Dora M. Sweeney died Sept. 30, 2001, in Juneau. At her request, no memorial services will be held. A full obituary will be printed at a later date.

Tuesday, October 2, 2001
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Flags at half staff for former legislator

JUNEAU -- Gov. Tony Knowles ordered state flags be flown at half staff through today for former legislator Dora Sweeney, who died Sunday at the Juneau Pioneers' Home. She was 94.

Sweeney was brought to Juneau by her parents as an infant in 1907.

She graduated from Juneau High School and attended business college in Seattle before working in a local law office, and later for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the territorial health department.

Sweeney served as secretary to the territorial Senate in 1953 and represented Juneau at the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 1955 and 1956.

She served five terms as a member of the House of Representatives in the territorial and state legislatures from 1955 to 1965.

After leaving elective office, Sweeney worked for the Legislative Council and served as sergeant-at-arms for the Alaska House. Sweeney was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Sweeney.

Wednesday, October 3, 2001
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE
Dora M. Sweeney

Dora M. Sweeney died Sept. 30, 2001, in Juneau.

The daughter of Finnish immigrants, Alfred and Mae Maki Lundstrom, Sweeney was born June 19, 1907, in Biwabie, Minn. The family moved to Juneau when Sweeney was an infant, and she attended Juneau High School and later a business college in Seattle. She and her husband moved to Port Angeles, Wash., in 1972, and after he died she returned to Juneau in 1986 to be nearer to family and friends. At the time of her death she lived at the Juneau Pioneers' Home with her sister Irene Lundstrom-McKinley.

Sweeney served in the final two Legislatures of the Territory of Alaska and was one of six female members of the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 1955 and 1956. She signed the Alaska Constitution in 1956, and subsequently served three House terms in the Alaska Legislature. She retired from her legislative career in 1965. In 1966, she was made the first woman sergeant-at-arms in the House of Representatives. She also served three terms as state president of Alaska Business and Professional Women, and was state president of the Easter Seal Society of Alaska for two years.

She was honored with many awards and honors during her life, including, in 1957, the first Woman of the Year award given by the Juneau Rotary Club, the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Alaska Press Club and the Distinguished Service Award from the Juneau-Douglas Education Association. In 1993, she was presented with a Meritorious Service Award from the University of Alaska Southeast. She also was given an award from the Joe Kappler Senior Citizen's Hall of Fame in recognition of her years of service to seniors and the community.

Sweeney was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Edward; sister Daisy Lundstrom-Brown-Burrell; sister Della Lundstrom-Clark; and brother Alfred Lundstrom.

She is survived by sister Irene Lundstrom-McKinley of Juneau, and numerous nieces and nephews.
At Sweeney's request, there will be no memorial services.