Bridget Byrd

Bridget Byrd, 86, of Kansas City, MO passed away September 11, 2017, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be 8-10am Saturday, at St. Therese Little Flower Church, 5814 Euclid Ave, Kansas City, MO 64130-3336. Rosary will be prayed at 9:30. Mass will follow at 10am, with burial at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64138. There will be a luncheon at the church after returning from the cemetery. All are welcome. Full obituary can be found at www.muehlebachchapel.com.Bridget was born on December 1, 1930, the daughter of Jasper and Rose DiCarlo, in Kansas City, where she grew up. She attended Central High School and after graduation went to the Kansas City Community College where she studied typing and shorthand. She worked at Carpenter Paper Company, Evans Electric, and later, for her brother, Vincent, at DiCarlo Construction Company. In 1954 she met her husband, Louis Smith Byrd. They met at a going away party for Clarence Mitchel, who had been drafted into the Korean War. Clarence had become friends with Louis Byrd while they both attended Rockhurst College. He invited Louis to his going away party, and Louis agreed on the condition that Clarence found him a date. Clarence fixed him up with Bridget, who was the sister of Vincent, who was married to Clarences own sister, Marilee. The two fell in love quickly. After several months of courtship, dancing at the Playmore, visiting the Kansas City museum, playing miniature golf, going to the zoo, and meeting their mutual families, Louis planned a proposal. One day in June he took Bridget to Loose Park one evening when the sun was going down. Though it was late, she reluctantly agreed to take a walk around the park. They walked around the lighted lily pond and sat down on the park bench. There Louis proposed. Bridget was happy and proud, knowing how much she loved him. This was at 11pm, when the lights at the park get turned off. Louis chose that moment to snap a twig behind her back and made her jump a mile. They laughed, and headed happily back home. They were married at St. Michaels Catholic Church on January 15, 1955. Together they raised four daughters, Diana, Cynthia, Teresa, and Lorraine. Many happy weekends were spent at the Byrd family farm, fishing, roasting marshmallows, sleeping outside, walking in the woods, and exploring hidden wonders of nature. After being a stay at home mother for 20 years, Bridget began working at Heart of America Candy and Tobacco Company (later sold to M.S. White Candy), where she enjoyed a successful career as a salesperson for many years. Bridget took pride in documenting family history, enjoyed her flower garden, and liked playing games such as cards and Chinese checkers. She loved collecting and reading books to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren whom she adored. Sparking the imagination and creativity of the children around her, she taught us how to entertain ourselves for hours, using her love of crafts and her uncanny ability to make something magical out of simple household bits and pieces of paper, egg cartons, discarded lids, felt, and sequins. Bridget and Louis shared 62 years of a marriage filled with laughter, love, respect, and faith. Bridgets zest for life, positive attitude, compassion, and sincere interest in others deeply touched and enriched the lives of everyone who knew her. Her love comforts us; her spirit strengthens us. For all of these things, her life will be remembered and celebrated for years to come. She was preceded in death by her parents Jasper and Rose DiCarlo; her brothers Felix (Buddy) DiCarlo and Vince DiCarlo and her sister, Antoinette Giamalvo. She is survived by her husband Louis and their four daughters, Diana Bray and husband Warren, Cynthia Gieseke and husband Michael, Teresa Chapman and husband John, Lorraine Kim and husband Thomas; 7 grandchildren, Tyson Duckworth, Gabriel Duckworh, Bridget Nicole Shireman and husband Erick, Peter Kim, Louis Kim, Caterina Kim, Joey Kim; 7 great grandchildren, Emily Duckworth, Abigail Duckworth, Braddock Duckworth, Carter Duckworth, Jimmie Duckworth, Zoey Shireman and Aiden Shireman; her sisters Vera Kerr and Christine DiCarlo; sister-in-law Marilee DiCarlo, and many nieces and nephews.




SERVICES Visitation
Saturday, September 16, 2017 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
St. Therese Little Flower 5814 Euclid Ave Kansas City, Missouri 64130
Rosary
Saturday, September 16, 2017 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
St. Therese Little Flower 5814 Euclid Ave Kansas City, Missouri 64130
Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday, September 16, 2017 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Therese Little Flower 5814 Euclid Ave Kansas City, Missouri 64130
Graveside Service
Saturday, September 16, 2017 11:30 AM
Mount Olivet Cemetery 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd Kansas City, Missouri 64138