Mary Frances Sullivan Herrington

Mary Frances Sullivan Herrington, age 89, passed away peacefully February 17, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. The wake will be held at 6:00 8:00 p.m. on February 23, 2017 at Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost, Kansas City, Missouri. Mass of Christian burial at 12:30 p.m. on February 24, 2017 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Church. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Reception to follow at 226 W. 53rd Street. Mom liked everything light blue so feel free to wear that color on Friday.Born November 22, 1927 in Alexandria, VA, Mary was raised at 3304 Jefferson, Kansas City, Missouri by her parents, Michael Francis and Mary Isabel Sullivan. She doted on her father.Mary was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Catherine Regan and Patricia Waechter, grandson Cameron Herrington, and daughter-in-law, Mara Sprecker Herrington. She leaves behind her nine children Peggy, Pat (Kimm), Mary, Suzy English, Katie Hiett (Reed), Frances King (Terry), Danny, Jimmy (Mary Kathleen), and Michael (Karla), 27 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.Mom graduated from Avila University (formerly the College of Saint Teresa) in 1948 with a Bachelor's of Education and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She taught school in her early years. She volunteered as a Great Books leader and mentored children in reading for many years. After being a stay-at-home Mom from 1952 through 1968, Mom reentered the workforce with virtually no experience, eventually settling in as an insurance agent. Mom was resilient, holding together a family of nine as a single parent.Her home at 5801 McGee was often overflowing with other children, especially during winter months when sledding at Suicide Hill meant a front hall littered with wet boots and an assortment of winter clothing. Mom enjoyed creating traditions for holidays most memorable of which was her desire to dye all food green on St. Patrick's Day. She enjoyed family vacations and knew how to merge education with fun as she drove us from one coast to the other. The fact that she left one child stranded at a gas station or almost drove her family off a cliff on different trips just added to the excitement of traveling with Mom. She made every trip eventful, whether she planned it that way or not.Mom was a proficient pianist and artist and shared her love of music and the arts by taking (often dragging) us to museums, ballets, operas, and symphonies.Mom lived through a unique set of challenges as well as the challenges every mother of a large brood is forced to suffer, like the hall ceiling crashing in on Christmas morning because someone left the bath water running, Brutus (the black lab) eating the Easter ham, or her exit from a gas station with the nozzle and whole fuel pump trailing behind her, spewing gasoline, as she drove down Oak Street. We would like to thank the staff at Villa St. Joseph, Menorah Hospital, and KC Hospice for their support and the care they provided to Mom and all of us. In lieu of flowers, we suggest contributions be made to Redemptorist Church. Mom was our North Star and our hero. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.muehlebachchapel.com.




There will be a reception following the Graveside service at 226 West 53rd Street in Kansas City. SERVICES Visitation
Thursday, February 23, 2017 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Muehlebach Funeral Care 6800 Troost Avenue Kansas City, Missouri 64131
Mass of Christian Burial
Friday, February 24, 2017 12:30 PM
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Catholic Church 3333 Broadway Kansas City, MO 64111
Graveside Service
Friday, February 24, 2017 2:00 PM
Calvary Cemetery 6901 Troost Ave Kansas City, Missouri 64131

There will be a reception following the Graveside service at 226 West 53rd Street in Kansas City.