Mary Catherine (Kavanagh) Sheeley, known to many as Cathy, shuffled off this mortal coil on Sunday, January 26, 2025, one day before the 57th anniversary of her wedding to the love of her life, John J. Sheeley, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Honey Kavanagh, and her sister Maureen. Because Cathy managed to live to such a ripe old age, many others, too numerous to mention, but whom she loved and cherished, also beat her to the grave. Mourning her loss are her children, whom she adored beyond measure: Denny (Stacie), Amy (Cliff), Jennifer (TJ), Katy (Greg), Megan (Robbie), Jack (chooses to be single), and Nick (Davidikah); her grandchildren: Kyle, Ella, Adie, Bradley, Sadie, Alexis, Tyler, Megan, Erin, Anna, Avery, Oliver, Tallulah, and Maverick; and great-grandchildren: Aaliyah, Ava, Luna, and Beaumont. Hobbling aboard the grief train are Cathy's nine remaining siblings: John, Sheila, Eileen, Margaret, Tom, Mike, Pat, Teresa, and Jim, along with siblings-in-law and a slew of nieces and nephews.

William Shakespeare warns us to "Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er wrought heart and bids it to break." And so we will attempt to encapsulate in a few words how much this incomparable woman meant to so many people. We are all heartbroken that she is no longer sharing space with us, but she will remain forever in our thoughts, always in our hearts.

One's impression of Cathy Sheeley probably depends on what phase in her life you knew her. If you knew her during her formative years, you might think of her as an overachiever who was just a tad socially awkward. But also as the big sister who at times served as a surrogate mother to her 10 younger siblings and who introduced those young minds to the fascinating fantasy worlds of children's literature. She embraced this role and helped create a cohort of inquisitive thinkers and avid readers. If you knew her as a young high school teacher, you might recall her brilliance and wit as she shared with her devoted students her love of Shakespeare and countless other authors and poets. She managed to mask her almost pathological shyness and became a highly respected teacher at the high school and college levels, continuing her quest to inspire young people to explore the world outside the confines of their familiar surroundings. If you knew her as a young wife and mother you might recall her somewhat frazzled but joyful disposition as she produced her first six children in 10 years, almost matching her mother, who managed to do it in nine. [You can't win 'em all.]

In all, Cathy and her adoring and (usually) adored soulmate John begat seven brilliant and talented children who were everything to her. In fact, it can be safely said that she loved being a mom more than anything – except maybe being a grandma (and, of course, anything connected with Neil Diamond). But still, the kids were right up there. Some might say one of Cathy's and John's most impressive achievements was creating a family whose members actually enjoy each other's company. The Sheeleys are a raucous, loyal, loving bunch and that is thanks entirely to their parents who were so proud of every one of them and who loved them more than words could express.

Cathy loved reading and writing, and that love was contagious, infecting her siblings, her students, and her children and grandchildren. She found joy in gardening and reveled in the beautiful sights and smells with which Mother Nature rewarded her for her efforts. And, though she adored Neil Diamond, as alluded to before, she loved The Beatles first. Her perplexing infatuation with Harry Potter was preceded and exceeded by her utter devotion to the likes of King Lear, Sherlock Holmes, Heathcliff (not the cat), Elizabeth Bennet, Miss Marple, C. Auguste Dupin, Antonia Shimerda, and Lara Komarovsky, among thousands of literary characters who populated her world and broadened her horizons. She was a funny, quirky, brilliant woman who brought joy (and occasionally terror) to the many lives she touched. Her light will never be extinguished because it lives on in her progeny and in everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

The Sheeley family asks that in lieu of flowers, you might consider a donation to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care ( https://kchospice.org ).