Patricia Rose Heilman

Patricia "Patty" was born on December 15, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Victor & Augustine (Pace) Latona. She graduated as valedictorian with honors from Glennon High School, Class of 1958, where she was a cheerleader & performed acrobatics.

Patty was married to Harold Heilman for 25 years, the love of her life. They met when Patty worked as a personal blackjack dealer, bringing her own tables into local establishments—love at first hand, you might say. Though Harold came into her life later, he loved her family as his own. To their grandchildren, they were lovingly know as Grandma & Grandpa (Mema & Popo). Before Harold, Patty was married to Raymond "Pat" Cochran for 22 years, and together they raised four children.

Deeply devoted to God & her family, Patty also had a great love for the USA & the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only did she have blackjack up her sleeve, she was a realtor and bookkeeper. Patty loved staying busy, even asking to keep working this year. Volunteering at thrift stores was another one of her passions.

Known for her spunky, humorous personality, Patty was a Feisty little Sicilian who could always make others laugh—often the loudest in the room. She adored everything Italian, especially the cookies & Vickie’s lemon bars. Patty loved playing cards & puzzles, & enjoyed traveling to Italy, Sicily, Greece, & beyond. She enjoyed being pampered, especially getting her hair & nails done. Her grandson Cole cherished taking her wherever she wanted to go. Her good friend Judy took her dancing every Wednesday night at Antioch Bar & Grill.

She will live on through all of us, with her love forever in our hearts, and be fondly remembered by everyone who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Heilman; parents, Victor & Augustine (Pace) Latona; grandparents, Joe & Rose Latona, & Joe & Santina (Cavallaro) Pace; along with many aunts & uncles.

Patricia is survived by her children, Steve, Tom (Yumi), Vickie (Ron), & Patrick; stepchildren, Tony, Bridget, Brandy, & Bobbie; grandchildren, Ashley (Johnny), Amanda, Dustin, Brandi (Jason), Jimmy (Lyndsay), Tiffany (Brent), T.J., Michael, Raymond, Victor, Taylor, Cole, & Hunter; 17 great-grandchildren; brother, Joe Latona; Aunt Sadie (Pace) Kern; mother-in-law, Bessie Hempel; siblings-in-law, Richard, Michael, Donna; & godchild, Barbie.

A visitation for Patricia will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday, September 13, at St. Patrick Parish, 1357 NE 42nd Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri, 64116, with Mass at 1:00 PM, followed by a celebration of life downstairs at St. Patrick's.