"Thank you to all the family and friends who have shared their remembrances. At such a difficult time for all of us, it's a blessing to share your memories and recollections. I wanted to share the content of the eulogy from his service (below). We, Rafe's family, will continue to fight for a better system of care for people like Rafe, his friends still stuck in the hospital. Thank you for walking this road with us. Thank you to all of you who are here, and the many who couldn?t make it. It?s been a tough couple of years for everyone. Many people know me as my brother?s advocate. There were times when I thought, ?if anyone else tells me how lucky Rafe is to have such a great sister, I?m going to punch them in the throat.? Not a very charitable thought, I know, but honest. I often felt that Rafe never gave himself credit for how strong, resilient, and courageous he was. I think he struggled at times feeling like he was a failure, or a burden, or that he didn?t measure up. Whether it was his sisters, peers, or just against what he wanted to accomplish, or who he wanted to be. The funny thing as the things the world measures success by never mattered to Rafe. He?d give away his last $5 to a friend, or stranger, who needed it. The things that did matter to him, his strength of faith, love, family and friends, having compassion for others, being kind? he succeeded at in spades. He was living in Albemarle for 6 weeks, and I can?t tell you how much of an impact he had on people there, Coley, Jeff & Reggie, the other guys who lived in the house. He had a new staff person, Keosha, who had just worked with him for a few days and she couldn?t say enough about how excited she?d been to work with him. I want to read something his favorite psychiatrist ever, Dr. Jim Sullivan, sent to my Mom: Rafe was a remarkable, brave and kind man. He carried his life?s burden of illness with humble dignity despite his suffering. In moments of health, it was a joy to see him lighthearted and content. He is truly someone I have been blessed to know, and will carry his memory fondly and respectfully. I made them let me see him last Friday, before they took him away. You know how us Sweeney girls are. We don?t take no for an answer very well. I told him that I loved him and I wanted him to know that his life has given MY life meaning. I will continue to be his advocate, to work hard and fight for all his friends and others living with similar challenges, to make a more compassionate, better mental health system. Rafe?s life, and his death have value. I think we did the right thing getting him out of the hospital and moving him to Albemarle. Everyone deserves the chance of a life with meaning, to live in the community, to make friends, to go to church, to be outside! The last six weeks of his life, he was thriving, but I think he saw the darkness coming back. We just ran out of time. I just couldn?t send him back to the hospital. I thought if I did, he?d never get out again. And he didn?t want to go back. I thought we could do this together. Get to tomorrow and next day. I was wrong, but I don?t regret that decision. We talked to his doctor the day before. And Rafe said that he didn?t want to die. But he saw death a little differently, as a door and on the other side was Jesus and he?d be there with his arms wide open ready to hug him and welcome him home. Over the years, I?ve heard my husband say something like this during these times? life is like an hourglass, and the sand is trickling through day after day? you just don?t know how much is left in the top. I?d like to challenge everyone here to tell the people you love how much they mean to you. Make sure you spend your time doing something valuable. Find/live your own purpose. Make choices lives with your life, don?t let it just happen to you. Be kind. As you think of Rafe, remember the good, the laughs, the joy. He?s no longer surrounded by darkness. He can see; he can paint, sing, be?. He?s whole and no longer in pain. He?s where he?s wanted to be for so long, in Jesus?s arms. "
In loving memory of
Raphael Leon Sweeney
September 17, 1967 - May 13, 2022
Raphael Sweeney, age 54, of Narragansett, died on May 13, 2022, when he ended his battle with mental illness and went to be with Jesus.
Raphael was born in Cincinnati, OH to Bronson and Judith Sweeney. He grew up all over the country in a Marine Corps family and as a young man, loved to surf. He spent many early mornings and afternoon with his friends on the water and always loved that time. Rafe first started experiencing mental health challenges in college and he fought bravely for over three decades. Despite overwhelming difficulty, Rafe persevered. He loved Jesus, music, art, helping others, and spending time with his family and friends. Rafe came to call Newport home after he graduated from the University of California, San Diego and became part of the fabric of his community. He will be missed tremendously. He is finally no longer in pain and has gone home to be with the Lord.
Raphael is survived by his parents, Bronson and Judy Sweeney, and step-mother Lynne; his sisters, Shannon Sweeney, Erin Black and husband Quentin, and Kara Guerriero and husband Chuck; his stepsister, Meagan Mattingly; his niece Anya and nephews Finn, Wyatt, Conner, Dallas, and Dillon.
He was preceded in death by his brother Dominic Carraig; Uncle Wayne Sweeney; and grandparents Bronson and Ada Sweeney, and Arthur and Helen Popple.
Calling Hours will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.
Mass of Christian Burial for Raphael Sweeney will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 10:00am at St. Joseph's Church, Mann Ave. at Broadway, Newport. To view the livestream of Rafe's services please follow https://link.memorial/Sweeney . Burial will immediately follow at St. Columba Catholic Cemetery in Middletown, Rhode Island. A reception will follow at First Presbyterian Church at Everett St and Broadway, in Newport, Rhode Island.
Tributes
"Raphael was truly an amazing human being, and the best friend I've ever known. He was too good,, too sensitive for this world! I know he suffered greatly due to his mental illness. Yet, that never stopped him from showing me great love and kindness always. I will always remember our happy times together. I consider myself to have been blessed by God to have had him in my life. I want to say thank you to his sister, Kara for her help and kindness to me since the day he passed."
"I?m sorry to hear about your loss of Raphael. He use to come in the Newport Creamery many times when I worked there, we would talk, he always put a smile on my face! I?m sorry that I just saw his obituary- I would have come to his services. May you be at peace. Until we meet again."
"My sincere condolences to Rafe's family and friends. I will always remember him and our wonderful times together in high school and college."
"Raphael is woven into the fabric of my life. I considered Raphael a dear friend and someone whom I loved and would do anything for. Despite his struggles, Raphael was always genuine and caring and compassionate. I told him over and over again that he brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to people that I would never have access to. He took this very seriously; to friends, to people whom he lived with, and in group meetings he always proclaimed the love of God. He even had a dream of starting a Catholic version of AA. Raphael suffered greatly, and his beliefs that should have brought him comfort, brought him confusion and pain. Can any one of you tell me that God Himself was not be crying tears of joy when Raphael approached the pearly gates? I picture Jesus running to Raphael and saying welcome home; be at peace my brother. I consider Raphael to be a Saint and immediately began asking for his intercessions for an eye operation that I?m having on Tuesday. Raphael simply wanted to please Jesus whom he loved; so please remember that most of all when you think of him. Raphael?s family are to be commended for the depth that they loved him and advocated for him throughout his life. Just as Raphael is now at peace, I wish the family peace and thank you for sharing the unique gift of Raphael with me. Judy allowed me access to which ever hospital or facility that Raphael was at and I am forever grateful for this. I have artwork from all around the world but consider the paintings that he gave me to be among my prized possessions. Rafe ? we love you, put in a good word for us and be at peace. "
"Rafe certainly was a wonderful person and so talented. I knew some of his suffering as we were neighbors for over 15 years. He absolutely did have a wonderful heart and so full of kindness. When my best friend passed away, he could see how devastated I was. He drove me to her mass and stayed beside me the whole time. He will be sorely missed."
""You're in the arms of the angels; may you find some comfort here......." As you lay down the burdens of this physical life, may you now rest in God's eternal love, joy, and peace, and may your spirit and soul be renewed in the presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. "