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JMJ
Jody (Jerome Joseph) Sheehan passed on to his eternal reward on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd, 2021.
Jody was born in Enid, Oklahoma on February 3rd, 1943 to Mildred and Eddie Sheehan. His adolescence was spent in Texarkana, Texas, where he was the youngest of four siblings: quintessential big sister Mary, always in glamorous red; eldest brother John, who was Jody’s mentor in married and family life; and Michael, who traded Jody a hairbrush for a prayer book when leaving for the seminary. As the last child in the home, Jody was especially close with his mother Mildred, who taught him to show love through cooking and to do his own laundry. Jody also loved, respected, and cared for his father Eddie. The heart of his childhood home was extended family, filled with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. The soul of the home was Sacred Heart parish, with Masses, school functions, social events, holy days, Sacraments, and dinner with priests.
As a boy, Jody had a habit of playing poker with his father’s golden nickels (actually $20 gold pieces!). He shot birds with his BB gun, which he later regretted, and was caught late one night stealing pumpkins from the neighbor’s garden. Jody loved playing baseball on a team with his “Baptist friends,” and when they went out for burgers after Friday night games, he would order his without meat, like a good Catholic boy, avowing that it tasted just as good.
Jody met the love of his life, Frances Dillon, during basketball season, where he showed off his stellar guard skills to the cute brunette cheerleader. She agreed to date him, despite the fact that he was far too old for her. After being told to come back in a few years with a job, he finally convinced Frances’ father that he was marriage material, and they celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony on June 6, 1964 at St. Edwards Catholic Church before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma. For nearly 57 years, Jody and Frances worked at marriage every day, and their love story inspires all who were fortunate enough to witness it.
After finishing his history degree at the University of Tulsa, Jody found a “family man” job in Kansas City, and the couple settled in Lenexa, Kansas, to raise five children in love and in faith. God’s plan for Jody was to be the father of daughters, for whom he would do anything. Particular moments sum up this calling, such as
· giving underdogs on the swing for hours to all the friends at the slumber party (ask him if he’s a truck driver . . .)
· setting up a high jump practice pit in the front yard with a mattress and bike flags, despite the neighbor’s concerns about the lawn (I’m raising kids, not grass!)
· spending a week as sous chef on a hot food truck in the middle of Iowa – that man could shuck corn!
· coaching softball, volleyball, basketball, etc., and being his daughter’s biggest fan at the game (that’s your ball!)
· driving all the way to Chicago, just to pick up a daughter and a newborn and drive straight back to Kansas City
There’s also the late-night bra shopping and even a Shaun Cassidy concert, bless that man. He showed his daughters Gilly’s in Pasadena, the Grand Canyon, and Saint Peter’s Square. He taught them to drive a stick and change a flat. They can all make his gravy, but no one can reliably replicate his fudge. Jody’s advice to his daughters was short and sweet: Watch out for the crazies and don’t be one. So far they have all obeyed.
Jody was quite content to acquire his sons full-grown and housebroken, as his daughters found and married them, and he danced on the table at the fifth and final wedding. Those boys love and respect their father-in-law and are honored to be his pall bearers: Rob Gliesman, Chris McEntee, Ron Bishop, Ryan Brotherson, and Joe Graham. Jody’s influence on his grown daughters’ faith is by example not dictate, quietly accepting each where they are while persistently urging a deeper relationship with God.
Jody was a longtime, active member of Holy Trinity parish, and he sent a daughter to the parish school for 25 consecutive years, attending every single Christmas Pageant. He was a Knight of Columbus, a Eucharistic minister, a marriage prep leader, and a member of two small faith communities, the Emmaus Group and Common Threads. As the Church began the retreat movement in the 1990’s, Jody discovered how he would live out his faith: as a daily pursuit of the concept of God. Introducing himself as a simple man just trying to do what’s right and working at it every minute, he accepted each moment on his faith journey, shortcomings and all. This allowed him to also love and accept others exactly as they came. He was a true servant leader, hardworking and not seeking the spotlight, which he showed by supporting retreats and such programs as Promise Keepers and Christ Renews His Parish. He helped establish Men Under Construction in the Archdioceses of Kansas City in Kansas and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jody covered the 4:00 a.m. shift at Holy Trinity’s Perpetual Adoration Chapel every Thursday for 29 years.
Jody loved softball and played on many teams over the years, including two over-70 championship-winning teams. He asked for batting gloves every Father’s Day for as long as anyone can remember and sliding pants too, as long as his wife permitted him to slide.
Jody loved his large and still-growing family with all his heart, and he told them so every chance he got. He leaves behind his beloved “Lady,” Frances Dillon Sheehan; his dear brother Michael Sheehan, Archbishop Emeritus of Albuquerque; and his five adoring daughters Susan Gliesman (Rob), Kim McEntee (Chris), Karen Bishop (Ron), Mary Beth Brotherson (Ryan); and Sarah Graham (Joe). Jody found great joy in each of his unique grandchildren: Robbie, Katie, Jordan, Allison, Hailey, Joe, Dillon, JJ, Nora, Charlie, Carolyn, Nate, Lily, Will, Claire, Luke, Molly, and Laura. He was also blessed to live long enough to know and love several great grandchildren: Brody, Cal, Riley, Pete, Noah, and Theo. He has nieces and nephews across the country and spent many Thanksgivings with Mark Yadon, Kelly Johnson, Ann Sheehan, Steve Sheehan, Julie Sheehan, David Sheehan, and Kathleen Wilmes. Countless parish friends will miss Jody’s quiet leadership and service, and his softball teammates will miss his pinch running skills.
Jody is preceded in death by his mother and father, Mildred Margaret Jarboe Sheehan and John Edward Sheehan, his sister Mary Yadon, and his brother, John Sheehan.
A Rosary will be prayed at 4:45 PM followed by visitation from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday, May 26th, at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia Street, Lenexa, KS. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Thursday, May 27, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 13615 W. 92nd, Lenexa, KS. In lieu of flowers, Jody would ask you to consider a donation to Holy Trinity Parish, Catholic Charities, or Right to Life. He would also ask you to say a prayer, play a game of softball, and tell those close to you that you love them.
“Love is the living of one’s life for the good of the other.”
~Jody Sheehan
1943-2021