Mary Kay Heili

Live stream can be found at this link





http://www.stpkc.org/


The live stream will not start until we begin recording at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 28th.
On March 1, 1940, in St. Paul, MN, Francis P. and Edna M. McCarty welcomed Mary Kathryn into their lives. Not long after, she was joined by a brother Jim, and then by her sister, Sara. Mary Kay was an adventurous, curly-haired little girl who took especially great care of her favorite doll, Margaret OBrien. She was very studious and liked visiting with the nuns in her school. Many of her summers were spent at Grandmas on a small farm in Breckenridge, MN, on the "Red River of the North", where she could harvest fresh vegetables from the garden and eat them immediately. During the winter, her Dad would flood the backyard and create an ice rink where Mary Kay developed her skating skills.
Mary Kay graduated as Valedictorian from Our Lady of Peace High School, and was proud to have served as editor of her high school newspaper. During her senior year, at age 18, she met a dashing Air Force veteran, Francis J. Heili, who was the manager of the public ice-skating rink. A short time later, Frank popped the question and they were married in 1959.
Due to Franks employment with the USDA, they lived in Edina, MN, Palatine, IL and Kansas City, MO.
Mary Kay devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren and her faith. She volunteered her time helping St. Peters school, even serving as PTA president while raising 9 kids! She was one of the founding Moms of the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Lunch, a tradition that continues to this day. Mary Kay also taught a weekly cooking class to some of the junior high boys. Oddly, this took place in her own kitchen and cleverly resulted in a meal suited for a family of eleven. Mary Kay and Frank remained active members of St. Peters Parish in Kansas City until their respective deaths. For Mom, that was over 56 years at St. Peters, where she also served on the Parish Council and the Altar Rosary Society. She had many treasured friendships with her Circle group and WOW ladies, and loved their McDonalds breakfasts following daily mass. She was a faithful visitor for Tuesday Adoration when her health allowed.
With her youngest child enrolled in kindergarten at St. Peters, Mary Kay struck out into the workforce with a job at Feeneys Hallmark Shop in the Brookside area of Kansas City. Then, when her younger children were nearing high school age, Mary Kay turned her attention to fundraising for Bishop Hogan High School, initially as a volunteer and eventually as Director of Development. She oversaw annual wreath sales, garage sales and phone-a-thons, wrote grant proposals, arranged tours for local philanthropists and numerous alumni, and roped in the support of many community members, helping to sustain the quality, affordable, Catholic education provided by Hogan.
Mary Kay later became part of the Development team for the De La Salle Education Center, where she was instrumental in securing several large grants and donations, and where she formed some lasting friendships. She always jumped at the opportunity to share the success stories of De La Salle with anyone she could, even after her retirement.
Frank and Mary Kay enjoyed travelling after retiring, with favorite spots including the northwest shore to visit their son John, and Disney World. Ironically, they never brought their kids there, but thoroughly enjoyed going once their kids were grown and they could act like kids again!
With the support of her children during the past few years, Mary Kay was able to continue living at home in her condo in the "Blue Building". Her youngest, Emily, was her personal occupational therapist, and her oldest, Frank, was her primary support and constant companion responsible for anything she needed in order to remain in her home.
Mary Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, and her sister, Sara.
She is survived by her brother, James P. McCarty; and her children: Frank, Mike, Cathy (Dan Sittenauer), John (Kazumi), Andrew, Amy (Ron Posey), Tim (Lisa), Bridget (Robert FitzGerald) and Emily (Chris Brewster); grandchildren Joe Sittenauer; Emma Heili & Eleanor (Musa) Al-Sulaimani; Sarah Posey; Matthew, Ben, Rachel & Luke Heili; Audrey & Linus FitzGerald; Brendan, Patrick & Teddy Brewster; and great grandson, Moses Al-Sulaimani. Additionally, Franks siblings Jim (Barbara) Heili, John (Christina) Heili and Bob (Jessica) Heili, not to mention several nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 27th, from 5-7 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 28th, at 10 a.m. Both will be at St. Peters Church, 701 E. Meyer Blvd, Kansas City, MO, 64131.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peter's Social Services or Catholic Community Hospice. Thank you for all your prayers, love and support!
. Visitation St. Peter's Catholic Church

Thursday, May 27, 2021

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

701 E Meyer BlvdKansas City, Missouri 64131
Directions Mass of Christian Burial St. Peter's Catholic Church

Friday, May 28, 2021

10:00 AM

701 E Meyer BlvdKansas City, Missouri 64131
Directions Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery

Friday, May 28, 2021

7601 Blue Ridge BlvdKansas City, Missouri 64138
Directions