Mary Neville

Mary E. Neville passed away Monday, November 14, 2011. Mary was the beloved wife of 54 years of James W. Neville, Sr. who preceded her in death earlier this year. Mary was born in Schefield, North Dakota on March 8, 1934 to Barbara and Anton Selinger. She attended St. Mary's Catholic High School in New England, North Dakota, where she was Homecoming Queen, and St. Aloysius School of Nursing in Bismarck, North Dakota. Mary met James Neville, Sr. while he was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Bismarck, ND. They were married on June 2, 1956. Mary had an enormous capacity for acceptance of others of all backgrounds. She had a tremendous patience and kindness toward all people most especially her friends, children, grand children and great grand children. She was a great listener with a soothing personality and an ability to put people at ease. She was kind of spirit, yet tremendously strong of character and dignity. Her family and friends all knew her as a person who never spoke ill of anyone, nor voiced a cross word. She was admired and revered by all who knew her. Mary's smile and sense of humor were infectious. Her engaging personality and welcoming nature were impossible to miss, or ignore. Mary loved to shop with her daughters, lunch with her grand daughters, guide her sons and grand sons and watch her great grand children. Mary loved family and holiday gatherings. She was a great cook, known among her grand children for her great noodles. She attended Mass daily and volunteered countless hours at her church. Mary gave generously of her time for a number of charitable organizations. She prepared food monthly for the homeless, and worked tirelessly with the Ladies of Charity, Rockhurst University Library Guild and the Women of Nativity. She volunteered regularly at the Seton Center. Fondly known as "Nan," Mary's first love was her family. For Mary, family was always first in her life. She was a loving mother whose five children, eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren were central to her life. She is survived by her five children Julie Neville Carew and husband Tom of Leawood, KS, Patricia Neville of Overland Park, KS, Brigid Neville Ohlemeyer and husband Bill of Greenwich, CT, James W. Neville Jr. and wife Missy of Mission Hills, KS, and Timothy Neville of Leawood, KS, eleven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and two sisters, Bernie Winden wife of Harold Winden of Fort Benton, MT and Marcie Tessier wife of Ron Tessier of Dickerson, ND. There will be a rosary held on Monday November 21, 2011 at McGilley Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO at 5:00pm and a visitation to follow from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday November 22, 2011 at Nativity Catholic Church, 3800 West 119th Street, Leawood, KS. The service will commence at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ladies of Charity at Nativity Catholic Church