Kathleen Katy Small O'Sullivan

Kathleen Small O'Sullivan (Katy), 83, of Kansas City, Mo., died unexpectedly in her sleep on Friday, October 7, 2016, with her beloved husband of 60 years at her side. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at St. Peter's Church (Meyer & Holmes), followed by the rosary at 11 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon in the church basement will be held immediately after Mass with burial at Calvary Cemetery next to her two sons following.

She was the longest running parishioner in St. Peter's, tied only by Tom! Memorial contributions can be made to St. Peter's Church or Birthright of Kansas City. Mom was born Sept. 28, 1933, a birthday she shared with her first born child, Tom, and her twin grandchildren, Anna and Patrick. She lived her entire life in Brookside, the last born child of Mark H. and Erma Small. Mom was a highly intelligent, compassionate, witty, well-read woman described recently by someone as "saucy," a perfect, if not comical, adjective. She was definitely memorable. She put faith, family and friends above everything else.

She graduated from St. Peters in '46, Hogan High in '50, and earned her B.A. in English from Loretta Heights in Denver, Colo., in '54.

Her introverted personality came alive on stage as she was cast the lead in many grade school and high school plays. Mom's brother was in dad's class and dad's sister was in mom's class, so they knew each other's families but not each other. That changed when a very debonair, Tom O'Sullivan, fresh from a four- year stint with the Air Force in the Korean War showed up at Aunt Mary Ellen's engagement party. She was on a date but Tom didn't mind. He swept her off her feet anyway. They married a year later on Nov. 5, 1955, at St. Peter's (they renewed their vows on that same altar for their 50th anniversary).

She enjoyed working at an ad agency until giving birth 10 months later. Mom and Dad went on to welcome six children in less than eight years. In 1969, the six O'Sullivan kids were all in St. Peter's at the same time spanning kindergarten through 8th grade. Mom was a Brownie and Cub Scout leader and involved with the mother's clubs at St. Peter's, STA and Rockhurst. Later, She enjoyed many of her own pursuits including part-time jobs (in Brookside, of course), craft classes, Spanish classes, years of volunteer work with Birthright, bridge groups, an endless supply of books, her daily obsession with the crossword puzzles and countless hours as an amazing cook!

One of life's highlights was the decades spent at the Lake of the Ozarks, for years in a tiny cabin and later, a larger home. Lake life is still being woven into the fabric of our family through the grandchildren and now the great- grandchildren. Mom and Dad were also blessed to travel extensively throughout the US and Europe and enjoyed many cruises around the world. For many years, they fled KC's winter for Arizona. If asked her favorite, Mom wouldn't hesitate to say Ireland, where they visited several times seeking out Irish ancestors. They loved exploring the world together. Travel enriched their married life as did their enviable network of life-long friends. They went dancing, had cocktail parties, played cards, and just about every friend spent time misbehaving on our lake deck.

Interspersed with life's fabulous adventures was great sorrow. Tim, the baby of the family died in a boating accident in 1997. First born, Tom, died 10 years later of colon cancer. Those were devastating losses, and we take solace in her being reunited with them at last. At every family celebration, before dining, we form a circle, hold hands and pray. The most poignant moment was always Mom's predictable ending after saying grace: "And God bless this wonderful family!" That wonderful family will miss her terribly. Surviving her are the love of her life, Tom O'Sullivan; daughters, Maureen O'Sullivan, Peggy (Jeff) Foley, Colleen (Mark) Bauman; son, Kevin (partner Kathy) O'Sullivan, and daughter-in-law, Marina O'Sullivan; 12 grandchildren, Briana Struemph (Jeremy, deceased) and Tricia O'Sullivan, Christopher O'Sullivan, Maggie, Shannon and Ryan Foley, Anna, Patrick and Danny Bauman, Kevin O'Sullivan, Jr. (Lindsey) and Tara O'Sullivan, Megan (Tyler) Hibler and great grandchildren, Maddie and James Hibler, Jaime O'Sullivan and Vera Struemph; her sister, Dainty Wiedeman; sister- in-law, Patty Biermann, her brother-in-law, Mickey (Linda) O'Sullivan also survive as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Mary Ellen McGilley and her brother, Pat Small.