Mary C. Weaver died peacefully at home on May 27, 2023.
Mary Catherine was the first-born of Lenore and James O’Connor on August 3, 1934 in Pittsburgh, PA. Mary’s father worked for Burlington Northern Railroad, her mother was a homemaker, and his work took the family from Pittsburgh to Seattle, WA in 1948. Mary graduated from Garfield High in 1952 and went to work for a local insurance company. Mary met George H. Weaver at a Chancellors Club gathering and they were married on May 22, 1954.
Within five years Mary was the young mother of four sons. Two girls were added to the family in the 1960’s. George’s work took the family from Bellevue, WA to Columbus, IN, Scotia, NY, Mission Hills, KS, Branchburg, NJ and finally back to Mission Hills, where they resided for 40 years.
Her Catholic faith was always a constant in Mary’s life. She was active in her parish, wherever she lived. In Kansas City, Mary was a member of St Agnes, Visitation and Curé of Ars parishes, serving as a lector, parish council president, religious education teacher and, with her husband, as an RCIA sponsor.
In 1978, Mary got her real estate license and spent the next 30 years helping people buy and sell homes, a job she truly loved.
An avid reader, Mary was known for her book, gift-giving. For several years, Mary was a volunteer at an adult-learn-to-read program at Penn Valley Community College and felt great joy in helping people learn to read. Mary was involved in Toastmasters International, multiple bridge groups, book clubs and boy did she love to dance. She enjoyed welcoming people into her home, especially for her annual St. Patrick's Day party! She had a great mind, sharp tongue and big heart. She was not afraid to battle for what she believed in and would gladly share her opinion on any topic.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, George, and her first-born son Walter, siblings James O’Connor, Lenore Severson and Thomas O’Connor. Mary is survived by daughter in-law Colleen Weaver (Walter), three sons: James (Mary), Kevin (Christi) Alan and two daughters: Cecile Aldrich (Brad) and Kate Wiese (Tom). Mary is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Jennifer Weaver,Gretchen and Patrick Weaver, Ingrid and Lily Weaver, Drew (Peterson), Madelyn, Amanda (Johnson), Derek and Liam Aldrich, Emily, Matthew and Brennan Wiese and 3 great grandchildren: Sophy Weaver, Vivien Rose and Benjamin David Peterson.
Mary was proud of her stubborn, Irish heritage, and definitely had the luck of the Irish as she was able to live her life to the fullest on her own terms right up to the end. She took great pride in all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and felt her greatest accomplishment in life was being a mother.
Mass of Christian burial will take place at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, Leawood, KS on June 23rd. Visitation 9:30-11:00. Rosary at 11:00 and Mass at 11:30. Internment immediately following at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of NE Kansas, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Urban Ranger Corps.