Obituary: Margaret Sweeney Bernstrom

Margaret Sweeney Bernstrom 1909 - 2007 Margaret Sweeney Bernstrom, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, age 97, passed away April 26, 2007, at home surrounded by those she loved. She was born on December 1, 1909 in Salt Lake City, to William Patrick and Agnes Bowman Sweeney. She attended East High and the University of Utah. She played bridge with her lifelong friends from high school well into her 90's. She married Harry Alph Bernstrom on June 15, 1934 in Salt Lake City. Harry passed away on February 4, 1982. She is survived by one sister, Anne Reynolds and one brother, Richard Sweeney; son, Ralph Bernstrom (Patty Spears), Garibaldi, Oregon; daughters, Carol Hogle (Hugh); Katheryn Reynolds (Larry, deceased), Salt Lake City; eight grandchildren; James Bernstrom (Holly); Holly Hogle DeSantis (David); Lisa (deceased); Carey Hogle Roberts (David); Matthew Hogle; Erin Hogle Taylor (Rocky); and Patrick Hogle (Brooke); James Reynolds (Jennifer). She is survived by 16 great grandchildren, Adair (C. William Watts), Adriane (Tory Gatrell), Elizabeth (Russell Whetton), Katherine, Annie and William DeSantis; Madeline (Tanner Purser), David and Alexandra Roberts; Hayden, Carolyn and Ellie Margaret Taylor; Hollister and Holden Hogle; Olivia and Joseph Reynolds; and finally one great-great grandson, Charles William Watts. She recently lost her brothers, Paul (Louise) and Tyrus Sweeney, as well as her sister, Janet Sweeney Demman. Margaret's mother died when she was nine and she raised her brothers with great love and sacrifice. She rejoiced in her children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren. How blessed we were to have five generations with the birth of Charles William Watts. The tribute that is engraved on Harry and Margaret's gravestone epitomizes her life as well as Harry's: "The whole earth is the tomb of Heroic men, and their story is not graven only on the stone over their clay-but abides everywhere without visible symbol, woven into the stuff of other men's lives". We look forward to the day we will be with them again. Mom, we rejoice in the great reunion you now enjoy-the mom you lost when you were so young, and all the other loved ones that have gone on before. Until we meet again. Family graveside services will be held at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, Saturday, April 28 at 10 a.m. under the direction of Cannon Mortuary.