Sandra “Renee” Meroney, 62, passed away suddenly on November 3, 2023. Services will be on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5130 Mission Road, Roeland Park, KS. The Rosary will be said at 8:45 AM, followed by visitation starting at 9:00 AM. A Mass will be said at 10:00 AM, immediately followed by a luncheon in the church hall. 

 Renee was born March 10, 1961 in Kansas City, Missouri, the third of four children to Richard and Josephine Barrera, and the only daughter.  Immediately, she stood out to her parents and her brothers because of her energy and fiery spirit, and of their four children, most closely carried the social butterfly persona and fiery spirit of Richard.  Due to complications at birth, Renee was born with cerebral palsy, which she would deal with and overcome her entire life.   After living in Kansas City the first 12 years of her life, Richard and Josie made the decision to move to Roeland Park, Kansas for the Shawnee Mission School District and their special education program.  Renee would flourish with the opportunity, making a lot of new friends and graduating from Shawnee Mission North in 1981.  

From there, Renee would join the organization that brought so much joy to her life, JCMRC, now Johnson County Developmental.  It was here where she would meet many new staff members and friends that would remain dear to her throughout her life.  Most importantly, she would meet the love of her life, Rick.  They would start dating in 1983, would marry in 1992, and stay devoted to each other to the end.   While her impairment presented many health challenges and numerous medical procedures, she never let that stop her from living a full life.  Renee would become very active, with Friday night bowling, cheerleading for Special Olympics, dinners and outings with her friends and family.  She acted in plays, including her turn as Sandy in Grease.  She would also begin working at the workshop, where she went out of her way to befriend everyone and loved the work the way I wish we all could.  As the years passed, she loved seeing her family and especially her nieces and nephews, including her godson, Joaquin.  

 As Renee aged, it became difficult for her to participate in all the activities she loved, but she didn’t let that stop her from enjoying life and the friends around her.  She still kept her brothers in line with holiday planning and enjoyed a special relationship with her mother.   Plus, she still had her husband by her side through everything.  As stated above, she loved her Friday Night Bowling, REACH, Special Olympics, the workshop, and dinners and parties with her many friends.  She dearly loved family events and the opportunity to see her many cousins and aunts and uncles, and looked forward to the yearly Barrera family reunions, and trips to El Sombrero Restaurant to see cousins, and lately her regular visits to Rudy’s restaurant in Lenexa to see her cousins there.  She loved seeing all her nieces and nephews, and always loved time with her brothers and her mother.  She was an incredible listener, and could provide comfort and affection to anyone, and always seemed to know who needed it most.  

Renee was preceded in death by her father, Richard Barrera. She is survived by her devoted husband of 31 years, Rick Meroney; her mother, Josephine; brothers Richard, Michael and Andrew (Becky); her mother and father in law, Rick and Saundra Meroney, sister in law Lori Meyers (Chris), and brother in law Michael Meroney; nieces Elena Borovetz (Brock), Megan Courtney (Sam), Claire Esparza (Aron), and Madden Meroney; nephews Jacob Meyers, Rico Barrera and Joaquin Barrera as well as her many aunts, uncles and cousins, and numerous friends and devoted staff members of JCDS, who took such loving care of her in her last years.  

Renee, you gave so much of yourself to others, and were inspiring by living life to the fullest despite the numerous challenges, and making the lives of those around you better.  We love you, and will miss you dearly. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Johnson County Developmental: https://friendsofjcds.org/please-make-donation/