Dante J. Cosentino

Dante John Cosentino Jr. was a man who loved unconditionally and was unconditionally loved. He was born on July 6th, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, to his devoted parents Beatrice (Intravia) and Dante Cosentino Sr. On Friday, June 19th, at the age of 79 years old, our Heavenly Father called him back home after a short, courageous battle with cancer. As a young boy, Dante was fortunate enough to be surrounded by the love of five amazing siblings, who helped shape him into the extraordinary man he grew up to be. His siblings: Michelina (Yarnevich), James, Jerome, Mary Gertrude (Benson), and Joyce (Bodenhamer) showered him with constant love, heartened playful competition, and taught him priceless life lessons. He attended Holy Cross Grade School and Bishop Glennon High School, where his charismatic personality gained him lifelong friends. While a student at Bishop Glennon, he was “struck by the lightning bolt” when he fell madly in love with his beautiful bride Mary Sue (Rellihan). They were wed in Holy Matrimony on April 7th, 1954, which marked a beautiful day in their love story – a love story that was perfect. To witness their love was to witness magic. They were abundantly blessed with the gift of five children: David and his wife Tana, DeeDee and her husband David (Maddox), Jamie and his wife Cheryl, Denise and her husband Mike (Armentrout), and John and his wife Julie, and family friends who became like his very own children, Robert Vigliaturo and Leslie McIntyre. His children were always smiling when standing next to him. Dante was also the proud grandfather to fourteen grandchildren, Ambra (Chris), Khara, Cori, Dante, Ali (Jeremy), Kyli, Shea, Jason, Michael, Candra, Cassie, John, Danten and James, who adored and cherished him completely, and two great- grandchildren, Ava and Cade, who will know him through his stories. He was a man who held many other roles and titles on his path through life: uncle, friend, mentor, gift, treasure, boss, leader, and so on. He was a beacon of hope to all those that surrounded him. Dante led an extraordinarily full life. He proudly served in the U.S. Army. He was an entrepreneur, philanthropist and businessman, who worked alongside his family members to establish their grocery business, the Cosentino Food Stores. The company humbly grew from a small produce stand in 1948 to presently employing over 4,000 workers whom proudly serve the greater Kansas City area in 27 locations, including several Price Choppers, the Downtown Market and the Brookside Market. He was the leader you would be fortunate to work with, as he was truly a respected grocer in the industry. Dante was an honored member of the Retail Grocers, Associated Wholesale Grocers, and Allied Food Club. He was a faithful member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. While his tenacity and work ethic was an important piece to his story, he really enjoyed the simple pleasures in life like fishing, playing pinochle with his friends, looking good and enjoying a delicious meal – particularly with his Monday lunch buddies. Dante redefined generosity with the selfless and humble way he anonymously gave of himself – always making sure that no one, not even a stranger, needed anything. He made us all better people by becoming the man God created him to be. The family would like to thank Dr. A. Cosmo Caruso, Dr. Gerald M. Mancuso, Fr. Don Farnan, Deb Bauman and his blue-eyed Lady girl, for sustaining the quality of Dante’s life to the end. Dante is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim, sister Mary, brother-in-laws Bud and Mike, sister-in-laws Frances and Billie, niece Kathy, and baby daughter, whom are exuberantly welcoming him with loving arms into Heaven. He is survived by his wife, their five children, fourteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, his brother Jerry, sisters Mickey and Joyce, his brother-in-law Dan, and countless nieces, nephews, and friends. Again, Dante was a man who loved unconditionally and will always be unconditionally loved.

Services will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11822 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131, Tuesday, June 23rd – Rosary prayed at 4:30p.m., Visitation from 5:00p.m. - 8:00p.m., Wednesday, June 24th, Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00a.m. Burial to follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dante’s honor to Heartland Hospice, Bishop Sullivan Center, Wayside Waifs or St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Condolences and fond memories may be left online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com

“The legacy of this wonderful man is the miracle of it all.”