Marianne Elizabeth Vespa, 83, of Overland Park, KS passed away peacefully on January 26, 2024 following a long illness. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. with a Funeral Mass following at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 1, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W. 103rd St. Overland Park, KS. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS.
Marianne was born in Peoria, IL on January 24, 1941 to Muriel (Matusak) and William Black. She was the third of nine children and lived her younger years in Atlanta, GA. She moved to Springfield, IL to pursue her nursing education, and eventually moved to Kansas City where she has lived for 55 years. Marianne worked as an RN in the Baptist Memorial/ Research Healthcare system until her retirement at age 75. She was very dedicated to her vocation as a surgical nurse and her compassion touched countless lives.
Most of all, Marianne was a devoted mother and grandmother (aka “Mimi”). Her family was her priority and she loved spending time going out to dinner, shopping, taking vacations to the beach, celebrating milestones, and gathering for holidays. She was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling, taking walks, decorating her home, getting together with friends, and of course, caring for her dogs. A devout Catholic, Marianne was a member of Holy Spirit parish in Overland Park, KS for 40+ years. She will be remembered for her strong faith, strong will, and strong convictions.
Marianne is survived by her two sons Bill Jr (Karen) of St. Louis, MO, and Tim (Marianne O’Connell) of Overland Park, KS. She was blessed with four granddaughters: Katie, Maria, Jane, and Meg. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Fred, Tom, Bill, and Pat. She is survived by her sister, Penny, and brothers Jim, George, and Pete.
The family also wants to extend special gratitude to Bonnie Maloney for her tireless devotion and exceptional care to Marianne. She was a true friend.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rockhurst Catholic High School https://www.rockhursths.edu/giving/your-gift-their-present-and-future/make-your-gift-to-rockhurst and Saint Louis University School of Nursing https://www.slu.edu/give/ways-to-give/index.php.