Connie Ann Rude Sweeney, age 72, passed away on January 2, 2025 in Garland, TX. She was born on October 10, 1953, in Kansas City, MO.

Connie was a loving mother, strong-willed, devoted to the happiness of her family, and she believed "family" included any cat lucky enough to cross her path. She found joy in seeking treasures at antique malls and flea markets, saving and fostering kittens, especially a new litter, collecting seashells at the beach, visiting the mountains of Colorado, and all things Disney. She was known for easily making friends, her big heart, and defending those who couldn't defend themselves.

In 1976, after completing trade school in Missouri, Connie moved herself and Sherry to Garland so she could start a new job with Rockwell International. This job took her away from her entire family, but she knew it would offer financial stability to raise Sherry as a single mother. Soon after, her little brother and his friend soon followed her, to "take care of the girls". This turned into Connie taking care of Sherry, Dennis, and his friend Mal. They had great fun living with two young 20 something men sleeping in bunk beds in Sherry's room while Sherry slept in her room. Always a joiner, Connie played softball on different teams, including Lindsey's Ladies. Many friendships were cultivated at the ballpark. While she made Garland her home for almost 50 years, her heart was always in Kansas City, Missouri…not Kansas.

1976 wasn't the first time she lived in Texas. Her dad's grain elevator career brought the family to Beaumont and Galveston when she was a teenager. Galveston had already been a favorite vacation spot of the family during lots of summers. She continued to vacation there as a family for many years after, enjoying time with Sherry, siblings, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and a friend or two. Many adventures happened there, and many family memories created.

Connie always loved music. She loved Jackson Browne and Kris Kristoperson, among others. She found her extended family at a music festival in Winfield, KS. When Bob first invited her, she and Sherry camped in tents. About 20 years later, they upgraded to an RV and invited many people to join them and the "K.A.N.T. C. Behavin'" crew to discover the greatness of folk musicians like John McCutcheon and Tom Chapin and blue grass musicians like The Steel Wheels. Over the years, she watched many well-known musicians play on a stage in a Kansas fairground. She and Sherry spent many, many September nights in the Pecan Grove staying up way too late and listening to incredible musicians jam around a campfire.

Connie always prioritized people over things, preferring traveling with friends and family. She saw newness in vintage items. If she knew you collected something, she always kept an eye out for a unique addition to your collection.

Connie also loved traveling.  Memorable trips include many cruises, scuba diving in Mexico, standing beneath Redwoods in California, knowing why what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, experiencing the excitement of Times Square, one trip where she Sherry and Heather stopped at every Rita's Ice locations in PA/NJ area after she saw the custard shop on the Food Network, and countless trips to Disney World.

Always a lover of animals, Connie believed every animal deserved love, warmth, cuddles, and care.  Horses were her first love.  She volunteered with Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs by partnering with horses to bring hope and healing through equine-assisted activities and therapies in Wylie.  Later she and Sherry volunteered with Garland Pawsibilties who supported the Garland Animal Shelter in caring for and placing pets.  She had a special touch with animals, especially cats. She played a large role in a barn cat program that placed feral cats into working roles in barns.  She and Sherry took their special talents to multiple disaster areas and helped trap lost pets in Moore, Oklahoma and Garland, Texas after tornadoes destroyed the area.  She had recently been diagnosed with dementia, but that didn't stop her from assisting Sherry when the Kerrville floods called to Sherry's heart.

Dementia forced some changes in her life. She had recently moved in with Sherry, and they were planning on moving back home to Kansas City, Mo. She was still making new friends at the Friend's Place, a center dedicated to daytime care for seniors. Not surprisingly, she was well-liked by staff and participants alike.

She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Sherry Sweeney, who was the center of her life and her trusted side-kick until the end. She is also survived by her brother Terry and wife Patti Rude, nieces Heather Gooden and Tiffani Hull, nephews Travis Rude, Tyler Rude, Brandon Rude, and their families, as well as her grand-dogs Cash and Bodie.  She leaves a legacy of friends who became family and animals who received a second life and more love than they ever knew. She was preceded in death by her dad and mom, James Edward and Rosemary Ann Rude, her brother, Dennis James Rude and Nadine Gawlak, who was like a daughter to her.

A memorial will be held on January 6, 2026 at Allen Funeral Home in Wylie, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dementia Research (www.alz.org) or the SPCA (www.spca.org)

She touched many lives, will be deeply missed and forever remembered.