Kansas City Funeral Directors

Judith M. Thurman

JUDITH M. THURMAN

ON JUNE 15,2019 OUR LITTLE AUNT JUDY WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD. SHE WAS BORN IN ANDERSEN,
MO. JUNE 19, 1939 . SHE WAS 79. IT WAS AN EASY HOME GOING, SHE HAD VISITED WITH HER SISTER
PEARL FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, PEARL LEFT AND FIVE MINUTES LATER SHE TOOK HER LAST BREATH.
I KNOW JUDY WENT TO BE WITH ALICE AND DANNY HER FRIENDS FOR 50 YEARS. TWO DAYS BEFORE SHE
PASSED, JUDY SAID HELLO ALICE AND WAS LOOKING AT THE FOOT OF THE BED. I ASKED HER IF SHE
SEEN MAMA AND SHE SAID, YES AND I'M MAD AT HER FOR LEAVING ME!

Elizabeth Marie LaFayette

Elizabeth Marie LaFayette

Elizabeth Marie LaFayette, “Libby” went home to be with the Lord on June 16th, 2019.  Libby loved and was loved by numerous friends, acquaintances and especially members of her immediate and extended family.  Libby’s departure from this world has left an aching void for all who knew and loved her.

Libby was born and lived most of her life in her beloved Kansas City.  She attended and graduated from Raytown schools in 1998. Libby was a lifelong learner who attained an associate degree from the Des Moines Area Community College.  She also became a licensed CNA, receiving her accreditation from Metropolitan Community College. She continued to read and study her entire life. 

As a youth Libby was activite in numerous sports, with softball being her favorite.   She was an accomplished member of teams that traveled throughout the Midwest and even in to the state of Colorado.  She won several awards for her efforts on the field, one time being voted best player by an opposing team. Her biggest fans were her father Tom and mother Marian.  Most importantly she made many lifelong friends while playing.

Libby shared the joy of being a loyal fan of both the Chiefs and Royals.  One of the family's fondest memories was her excitement over the Royals 2015 World Series triumph.

Libby inherited a caring nature and strove to be of help to others.  She was a hard worker who searched for meaning in assisting others. Just two weeks before her passing, she helped clean a stretch of highway dedicated to a departed friend.  

Libby loved her Bichon Frise, Shadow.  They spent many joyous hours together as she held him and played with  him.

She endeavored to be a loving mother to her daughter Joey.  Being a mother made her heart sing. The family remembers how happy she was to go about the daily chores of motherhood when her daughter was a baby.  She was thrilled to have Joey in her life and Joey never left her heart.

In recent years Libby spent much time and energy doing things with and for her mother.   She was a friend and companion after her mother’s retirement. They shared time and interest in listening to music and watching a variety of mystery programs.  Her mother Marian remembers Libby’s wonderful laughter during these times of shared enjoyment.

Libby enjoyed several cross country camping trips with her dad Tom.  They traveled extensively in the Northeast, including trips to Niagara Falls, the mountains of Pennsylvania and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.  Libby and Tom also enjoyed a trip to California where they shared time at Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farms. She often spoke of how much she enjoyed these trips and special times with her dad.

Libby is survived and missed by a loving daughter, Josephine, who lives  in Des Moines, Iowa. She also leaves behind her father Tom and mother Marian, both of Kansas City.  They continue to love Libby deeply.

Libby is also in the thoughts and prayers of her Aunt Melody, Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike.  She brought much joy and humor into their lives. She will be missed by her cousins Dan of Des Moines, Iowa, Chris of Fort Myers, Florida, and Gordy of Middletown, Ohio.  They each shared a special place in Libby’s life and she in theirs.

Libby was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Ted and Marie Robinson of Franklin, Ohio and paternal grandparents, Gorden and EvelynLaFayette of Middletown, Ohio.  Also gone is her beloved uncle James Robinson of Miamisburg Ohio who shared her gift of laughter.

In addition, the extended Robinson, Anderson, and LaFayette families will always remember and love Libby’s great heart and caring soul that touched them all.

“Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes”

Romans 6:13

Fidencio Hernandez

Fidencio Hernandez, 83, of Liberty, MO, passed away peacefully at his home on June 16, 2019, with family at his side. Visitation at Noon, Rosary at 12:30 p.m., Mass of Christian Burial at 1 p.m. Friday, June 21, St. James Catholic Church, 309 South Steward Rd, Liberty, MO. Burial will immediately follow mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions suggested to St. James Building Fund. Fidencio was born October 20, 1935, in Romita, Guanajuato, Mexico, one of three boys of Juan and Juana Hernandez. Along with his parents and two brothers, Fidencio was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years Linda Hernandez. He was a lifelong Catholic and member of St. James parish. Survivors include his children, Monica Hernandez, Carlos Hernandez (Debbie, deceased), Carmen Siemens, (Brett), Carla Williams (Paul), Leslie Hernandez Brown (Michael) and Raquel Starner (Paul), nine grandchildren; Cory, Siera, Jena, Calen, Hunter, Carmen, Cristyn, Sterling and Amberly; One great-grandchild Thomas James; as well as many nieces and nephews and other family members.

Pamela Sue Jones

Pamela Sue Jones, 60 of Kansas City, Kansas passed away June 11, 2019. Funeral service 4 pm, Thursday, June 13 with visitation at 3 pm at Kansas City Funeral Directors, 4880 Shawnee Drive, KC, KS 66106. Burial will be Friday, June 14, 2019 at 11:00 am at Bonner Springs City Cemetery, Bonner Springs, Kansas.

Pamela pursued her career in nursing. She was passionate about caring for others. In her spare time, she loved gardening, going shopping, garage sale shopping, making jewelry and most of all spending time with family and grandchildren. She was a loving and caring person. She wore her heart on her sleeve. She always put others first. She will forever be loved and never forgotten.

Ronald Cervantes Abarca

Ronald Cervantes Abarca

Ronald Cervantes Abarca, 63, of Kansas City, MO passed away at his home on June 6, 2019.  Visitation Thurs. June 13, from 6-9 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS.  Funeral Mass Fri. June 14, 10:00 AM at the church.  Memorial donations may be made in his name to the National Ataxia Foundation, 600 Highway 169 South, Suite 1725, Minneapolis, MN  55426.

Ronald was the first graduate of Harmon High School.  He went on to work at General Motors where he and his business partner, Dave Quirarte, sold burritos for new golf clubs.  Eventually they took their talents and co-founded Margaritas Mexican Restaurants in 1985.  They grew their business into several businesses.  They didn’t just create a Kansas City staple but a place where everyone was family.  Ron AKA The Tamale Man had an open door policy not only in his restaurants as well as in his home.  He was a devoted parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church and believed to lead through the lens of God.  His life emulated what it meant to be giving and forgiving.

Ronald was preceded in death by his father, Selso; mother, Helen; & brother, Selso.  He is survived by daughters, Tanya & Monica; son-n-law, Anthony; grandsons, Braden & Tyler; mother, Tina; 4 brothers; 2 sisters; 13 nephews; and 13 nieces. 

Ronald was a Father to many, friend to all, Papa to his boys; and a Daddy to his girls.