Mary Joann Shannon, 97, passed away peacefully at Santa Marta Retirement Community in Olathe, Kansas on March 19, 2022. Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be said 10:00 am, Saturday, March 26th at Holy Trinity Chapel, 9130 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, Kansas. Burial immediately following at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64138. Joann's Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be live-streamed through the Mcgilley & Hoge Chapel's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/McGilleyHoge Please understand that due to limitations, there is the potential that the live-stream service may not be successful.
Joann was born October 14, 1924 in Kansas City, Missouri to James Joseph Shannon and Mary Katherine (Cantwell) Shannon. Joann was preceded in death by her six brothers, James Cantwell Shannon, Frank Scott Shannon, William Joseph Shannon, Joseph Cantwell Shannon, John Richard Shannon, Robert Emmett Shannon and three sisters, Mary Alice Turner, Kathryne Ellen Foley, Elizabeth Ann Swartwood. Joann is survived by her dear companion, Jim Finlen; caregiver and friend, Sue Stephenson Rhodes, and a family of many nieces and nephews.
Joann was employed at Sears and Roebuck for 45 years and was a trailblazer of the role of women in the accounting department. She was the first women to travel to set up auditing departments in new stores across the country. She relocated to Denver, Dallas and Chicago for bigger roles with increasing levels of responsibility before returning home to Kansas City where she retired in 1989.
Joann applied her same unyielding enthusiasm to her retirement as she did her career.
She was a dedicated volunteer across many organizations including Villa St Francis, St. Joseph Hospital, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, and a docent for Johnson County Community College Theater.
Her natural curiosity to learn was endless and she continued as an early riser each morning to her first cup of coffee and to read every detail of the Kansas City Star before 7 am. She enjoyed traveling, taking cruises to South America and Alaska, trips to Ireland and Rome along with frequent trips to the Lake of the Ozarks.
When not traveling, you could often find Joann in full Kansas City Royals or Chiefs gear supporting her home teams, watching anything to do with golf or reveling in her Irish heritage singing Irish tunes over a glass of white wine with her adoring nieces and nephews.
A gift of remembrance can be made to Catholic Charities of Kansas City- St Joseph at https://catholiccharities-kcsj.org/donate/
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleyhoge.com for the Shannon family.
