Mickey is the oldest of four children, Pat, Bill (Hope) and Frank, to Mildred V. McManus McDonnell and Thomas K. McDonnell. She attended St. Joseph grade school and high school in Shawnee, Kansas followed by Avila University. She became a part of the cheer squad at Rockhurst University where she met Walt Tylicki, a shy forward from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was instantly smitten. They married on November 21, 1964 just months after Rockhurst won the NAIA Championship. While Mickey worked as a dental and oral surgeon assistant for many years, her real passion was her volunteer time at St. Agnes Parish and Bishop Miege High School where her husband, Walt worked as a teacher, coach and counselor. Mickey’s life revolved around her four children; Jeff, Andy, Jenny and Brian, and her work on charity auctions in both her parish and at Bishop Miege. In addition to helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the years, she made countless connections and lifelong friends through her volunteer activities.
Mickey discovered her greatest joy with the birth of each of her nine grandchildren. She spent countless Saturdays watching peewee soccer, CYO games and baseball at 3&2. She attended all the school holiday programs and looked forward to grandparents’ days, first communions, confirmations and high school graduations.
Mickey never missed an opportunity to meet with friends in both celebration and struggle. She has been a source of support and inspiration to her family, friends and community. Her smile and constant willingness to pitch in will be missed by one and all.
Mickey is preceded in death by her mother, Mildred V. McDonnell; father, Thomas K. McDonnell; husband, Walter H. Tylicki; and her aunt, Patricia Shannon.
Survivors include her four children, Jeffery P. Tylicki (Janet), Andrew J. Tylicki (Melissa), Jennifer Tylicki Fontaine (Daniel) and Brian (Jennifer); as well as nine grandchildren, Marilee and JJ Tylicki, Sam, Sophie and Izzy Tylicki, Peter, Patrick and Daniel Fontaine and Ella Tylicki. She is also survived by her three brothers, Patrick McDonnell, William McDonnell (Hope), and Francis McDonnell; and niece, Jessica McDonnell Reynolds (Matt); and nephew, William R. McDonnell (Erika); as well as four great nieces/nephews; Hope and Henry Reynolds and William and Anthony McDonnell.
In lieu of flowers, Mickey would like contributions to the Walt Tylicki Soft Hart Scholarship at Bishop Miege HIgh School, 5041 Reinhardt Dr. Roeland Park, KS 66205. Checks may be written to Bishop Miege with ‘Soft Hart’ included in the memo. If there are questions, please contact the Director of Development, Molly Peterson, at [email protected] or 913.222.5994 ext. 220.
Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park, KS 66205. Seating is limited due to COVID-19. The service will be available by car radio in the parking lot and via live stream at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7e0RqT7iRcxkv6HZFKCrBg/live
