Anna Lea O'Connell

Anna Lea (Miller) O'Connell Anna Lea O'Connell, 85, passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2015, at the Kansas City Hospice House. She was born Dec. 10, 1929, in Coffeyville, Kansas, the only child of James Hugh Miller and Avonell Lee (Sullivan) Miller, who both predeceased her. She is survived by her husband, Gerald L. O'Connell, M.D. and four children: Linda (Steve) Judge, M.D.; Nancy (John) Richards; Susan (Dave) Richardson; and Mike O'Connell. She also is survived by 12 grandchildren: Nicholas (Anne) Judge, Ryan (Jennifer) Judge, Jeff Judge, Cate Richards, Alex Judge, Elise Richardson, Erin Judge, Anna Richards, D.J. Richardson, Sam Richards, Alec O'Connell, and Danny O'Connell. Anna Lea also is survived by five great-grandchildren: Meara Wilson; Cadence Judge, Riley Judge, James Judge, and Sean Judge.

Anna Lea grew up in Kansas City, Missouri's Our Lady of Good Counsel parish and graduated from Bishop Lillis High School in 1947, where she was a cheerleader for three years. She attended the College of St. Teresa for two years then worked for the Keith Furniture Co. and the Marsh Steel & Aluminum Co. After marrying Gerald in 1954 and raising their four children, Anna Lea worked at Woolf Brothers department store from 1980-1990. She always displayed impeccable sartorial and home dcor elegance. She was a big Jayhawk fan and very dedicated to KU basketball.

A visitation will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 7, 2015, at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, Kansas, 66206 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. and interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas.

The family would like to thank Rene Bollier, M.D., the staff of Kansas City Hospice, Larry Fitzgerald, Charlotte and Jim Humphrey, Mary Riggs, March Kincaid, Anne O'Connell, Janet O'Connell, Rita Bowerman, Peggy and Jack Chilcoat, Laurie Coleman, and Terri Maloney for their assistance during Anna Lea's illness. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care and Bishop Miege High School.