Mary Bridget Kratofil of Overland Park, KS, passed away peacefully at home on August 12, 2025, surrounded by her beloved family. She was 75.
Mary Bridget is survived by her devoted husband of 54 years, Gregory Kratofil Sr., and their four children, who were her greatest joy: Gregory (Kristin) Kratofil Jr. of Kansas City, MO, Kate (John) Koehnecke of Colorado Springs, CO, John (Erica) Kratofil of Overland Park, KS, and Ann (Joe) Warren of Derby, KS. She treasured her role as Grandma to eleven beloved grandchildren – Gregory Kratofil III, Taylor Kratofil, Jacquelyn Koehnecke, Will Koehnecke, Abigail Kratofil, Caitlyn Kratofil, Jack Kratofil, Luke Kratofil, Peter Warren, Frank Warren and John Paul Warren – each of whom held a special place in her heart.
Born on December 23, 1949, in Kansas City, MO, Mary Bridget was the third of seven children of James F. and Mary Kathryn O’Malley. She is survived by four of her siblings: James O’Malley of Kansas City, MO, Patrick (Sandra) O’Malley of Village of Loch Lloyd, MO, Mary Kathryn (Mary Weir) O’Malley of Kansas City, MO, and Terence (Heather) O’Malley of Kansas City, MO, as well as 32 nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Brian O’Malley and The Honorable John O’Malley.
As the oldest daughter in a large Irish Catholic family, Mary Bridget was fiercely proud of her heritage and deeply committed to her faith and her family. She lovingly carried forward the spirit of her Irish grandmother and mother throughout her life, organizing and hosting innumerable family gatherings and holiday celebrations. Her generosity extended far beyond her immediate family, touching countless friends, neighbors and community members.
Mary Bridget graduated from St. Francis Xavier grade school in 1963 and from St. Teresa’s Academy in 1967, both in Kansas City, MO. She followed in her mother’s footsteps by attending St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, Indiana, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English in 1971 and forged lifelong friendships that she cherished always.
Soon after college graduation, Mary Bridget married the love of her life, Greg Kratofil, becoming part of another large, lively family proud of their Croatian heritage and committed to their Catholic faith. They settled in St. Louis for Greg’s law school studies, where they welcomed their first two children, Greg and Kate. A few years later, they returned to Kansas City, where they welcomed two more children, John and Ann, and became deeply involved in their parish and their children’s Catholic schools.
While Mary Bridget was most proud of her titles as wife, mother and grandmother, she also was an accomplished writer who penned humorous personal interest articles for The Kansas City Star, The Sun and other area publications. She shared her mother’s superior knowledge of all things grammatical and was a voracious reader. She used her talents to serve Catholic schools and organizations, including the Catholic Education Foundation and St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where she worked in development and communications. She was a faithful member of the Ladies of Charity, supporting social service agencies across the region with compassion and grace.
In 2019, Mary Bridget was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. In the early days of treatment, she showed her oncologist a picture of her children and grandchildren, explaining that they were her motivation to fight the cancer. Through courage, faith, and Greg’s devoted care, she was blessed with six more years, time to watch her grandchildren receive sacraments, perform in school plays, and shine in athletic events. Even in illness, her trust in God never wavered, and her example of perseverance and love became a legacy her family will carry forward.
Services for Mary Bridget will be Wednesday, August 20, 2025, with visitation at 9:30 am, a Rosary and family eulogy at 10:30 am, and Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park, KS. Private burial to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Bridget’s memory may be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church (https://hscatholic.org/give) or Catholic Education Foundation (cefks.org).