Helen Marie Fagan

Helen Marie Fagan, 92, of Leawood, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 20, 2014. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, November 24th, 10:00 a.m., at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, KS, with burial following in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 23rd, at McGilley State Line Chapel, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lakemary Center, 100 Lakemary Drive, Paola, KS 66071, Attn: Mary Wheeler.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, William D. (Bill) Fagan, brothers, John, Bernard and Joe Fleming and sister, Irene Rolfe. She is survived by her sister, Mary Carter and brother, Bill (Marilyn) Fleming as well as her sisters-in-law, Betty Fagan and Delores Fleming. Survivors include her eleven children, Molly (Jon) Grams, Pat (Sue) Fagan, John Fagan, Bill Fagan, Anne (Bill Oxler) Fagan, Bridget (John) Murphy, Tommy (Carla Pearman) Fagan, Eileen Fagan, Mickey Fagan, Bob (Susie) Fagan, Jane Fagan. She is also survived by her twenty grandchildren, Bridget, Sean, Peter and Tom Grams, Kathleen Walker, Jean and Jack Fagan, Ryan, Nicki, Kelsey and Matt Fagan, Willy, B.J. and Abby Fagan, Helen and Jack Murphy, Mike and Kyle Fagan, Conrad and Riley Fagan. Helen is also survived by her seven great-grandchildren.

Helen was raised in Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, MO. Following World War II, she offered a handsome naval officer named Bill Fagan a ride downtown. Shortly after that ride they were married. She began a successful career as a devoutly Catholic wife and mother. The loving union lasted 56 years until the death of her beloved Bill.

Helen was a graduate of Loretto Academy in Kansas City and a member of Visitation and Cure of Ars Catholic parishes. She served the Mothers Club of Rockhurst High School as well as the Ladies of Charity, Sister Servants of Mary and Lakemary Center.

The world was graced with Helen’s presence. She embodied the spirit of kindness, selflessness and happiness. Her presence in your life meant that someone cared for you unconditionally. If you were lucky enough, you were one of the hundreds, if not thousands, of strangers who were touched by her acts of kindness. You may have witnessed her holding a baby for a young mother, encouraging a teenager, helping the disabled or just listening and holding a hand. She was the consummate caregiver to the end.

While Helen’s acts of kindness were legendary so was her sense of humor. There was never a time that she didn’t take the opportunity to smile, laugh, share a wonderful story or bring tears to your eyes with her sometimes self-deprecating humor. Helen brought her experiences in life to bear in her family life. She lived through the depression, saw her brothers off to World War II, advised her husband in the creation of the Fagan Company, watched a man walk on the moon and most importantly to her, saw social justice take great strides in America.

Her sparkling blue eyes held in them the wisdom to form a loving gaze, a warm embrace or the ability to stop a rambunctious boy dead in his tracks. She will be missed.

Condolences may be left online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com. Arrangements, McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.