Elvira "Vera" Rios

Elvira (Vera) Rios, 86, of Roeland Park, Kansas, passed away October 30, 2021 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Vera was born on November 27, 1934 in Kansas City, Kansas. She was the second of eight children born to Adolfo and Josefa Parra. She grew up and attended school in Armourdale, Kansas. Because of the unique order of the children, four girls and then four boys, Vera and her sisters helped to raise “the boys.” Her siblings were her best friends with a bond that lasted a lifetime.

When she was 17, the family moved to the Westside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. While working part-time over the holidays at the U.S. Postal Service, she met her husband, Louis Rios. They married on April 7, 1955, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Vera and Louis continued living on the Westside where their first three children, Linda, Rita and Louie, were born. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. In 1963, the family moved to the Valentine neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri where their fourth child Tricia was born. They became active members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and Redemptorist School. Family time was cherished, and Sundays usually consisted of attending Mass, enjoying dinners at home, and visiting relatives. The Rios family was ever-expanding, and she cherished the relationships that grew with sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Throughout her life, Vera considered holidays and birthdays extra special occasions, which created a year full of celebrations that kept her family close.

She started her professional career working in retail at a Hallmark greeting card gift shop. She quickly grew in her career and became the manager at Ferrel’s Hallmark at Ward Parkway Shopping Center where she enjoyed working for 37 years. Vera took great pride in her position at Ferrel’s. It meant a lot to her that her co-workers became lifelong friends. Even after retirement, Vera enjoyed spending time with her Ferrel’s Hallmark family.

Vera became a widow at the age of 48. Her family continued to grow, and her grandchildren were the light of her life. She enjoyed nothing more than supporting their activities whether it be school, sports, dance recitals, graduations, sacraments and all other significant milestones. Vera understood the value of education and impressed this upon her children and grandchildren. Visits to Grandma Rios or “GG” were treasured not only by her but by the grandchildren themselves. She had the gift of making everyone around her feel special, and she will be dearly missed. Vera’s legacy will live on through all the lives that she has touched.

Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm with a Rosary at 7 pm Wednesday, November 3rd at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Redemptorist Church, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am on Thursday, November 4th at the Church. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. COVID protocols will be followed. The Mass will be live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/McGilley-Midtown.

Vera was preceded in death by her husband Louis, her sisters Abbie (Jesse Aguirre) and Angie (Ramon Rodriguez). She is survived by her children: Linda Reyes (Jim) of Kansas City, Rita Rios (Joe Oropeza) of Roeland Park, Louis Rios (Kebra) of Kansas City, and Tricia Geris (Joe) of Shawnee. She is also survived by a sister Esther Muro, brothers Adolph, Ricardo, Robert and Alfredo Parra (Peter Harakas). Eight grandchildren: James Reyes (Jen), Renee Martinez (Sonny), David Reyes (Haley), Lauren Garcia-Metcalf (Angel), Stephen Reyes (Olivia Thompson), Andrew Rios, Ryan Geris and Ruby Rios. Six great-grandchildren: Liliana and Dominic Martinez, Isaac and Zachary Reyes, Angel Cruz and Adrian Garcia-Metcalf.

Donations are welcome to Redemptorist Church and Sister Servants of Mary.