Roberta Donnelly Sweem

Roberta Marie (Donnelly) Sweem was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Monday, September 12, 1949, to John Robert and Dorothy (Jones) Donnelly. She passed from this life to her eternal home in heaven on Friday, March 25, 2022, at the age of 72. Roberta was the second of five children born to the Donnelly’s. Her father was a banker, and her mother was a real estate agent. She grew up in Broken Arrow and graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 1967. She was the Football Homecoming Queen her senior year in high school. After high school, she married and gave birth to two sons. She had a big heart and enjoyed caring for others. She learned cosmetology and did hair and makeup for a few years, cared for children in her home, was a nanny, and sold children’s shoes, before she found her true calling serving Christ as an ordained minister and missionary. She founded several ministries and worked with multiple churches. Her ministry work included a trip to China, multiple trips to India, as well as ministering to prisoners at several different prisons in Oklahoma. She later worked at the prayer line at Oral Roberts. She raised her sons in Broken Arrow. They describe her as kind and loving. She loved watching romantic comedies and had an infectious laugh that would cause others to laugh with her. She enjoyed playing cards, but for her it was less about winning than visiting with those she loved. She was “Nana” to her six grandchildren. One of the things she loved to do was watch movies with them, including “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” over and over dozens of times. A dear friend of hers by the name of Cindy said this: “Your mom was super proud of you boys and was over the moon for her grandchildren. She loved the Lord and did well on her mission trips. And her most fond memories of school years was when she was given the privilege of being Football Homecoming Queen. She was my spiritual mother and I loved her dearly for over thirty years. I know she is elated to be in God’s presence. Forever grateful for her friendship and prayers.” Her school friend and blood sister, Shelly, said that she “was the thread that bound us together, always happy to hear from one and all,” and that she said the “most beautiful prayers.” Roberta will be fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her. Left to cherish her memory: Sons: Martin Sweet and wife Anna of Sterlington, Louisiana, and Matthew Sweet of Tulsa. Brothers and Sisters: Dennis Donnelly and wife Nita of Coweta, Michael Donnelly and wife Dawn of Hawaii, and Debbie Roop of Coweta. Grandchildren: Mia Marie Sweet, Madison Makena Sweet, Larry Mason Sweet, Christopher Blaise Sweet, Jude Michael Sweet, and Annemarie Cristina Sweet. And many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and cousins. Those who preceded her in death were her parents, Bob and Dorothy, and her brother, Billy Donnelly.

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Roberta Donnelly Sweem

September 12, 1949 - March 25, 2022