Kathleen’s Obituary Kathleen Kennaley Tripp was born April 3, 1953 to Edward O’Connor and Kathleen O’Connor nee Kennaley in Kansas City, Missouri. She was one of six siblings; Ned O’Connor, Sean O’Connor, Eileen O’Connor, Bridget O’Connor and Margaret Porter. Such a large core of loved ones instilled Kathy with a boundless adoration and devotion for family and a deep sense of compassion for those around her.
From her earliest days Kathy’s passion for life and humanity led her on a path full of adventures, memorable stories and acts of altruism. Kathy graduated from St.Therese Highschool in 1971. She then attended Loyola University New Orleans, Louisiana.
Kathy was a woman of many, humanitarian hats. She worked as an orthopedic lab technician at St.Lukes on the Plaza in her youth then continued her career as an awarded hostess and bartender. She worked as a Paralegal in several law firms around Kansas City.
Never one to sit idle in her later years Kathy continued to show her compassion for others as a Peer Counselor with Truman Medical Center helping the homeless and actively volunteering at the World War I Memorial. Kathy never hesitated to seek out her joys and passions. She pursued many activities throughout her life including traveling throughout the United States and outside of it borders to Mexico and Europe.
Closer to home Kathy was an avid birdwatcher and a renowned gardener; often neighbors, friends or family would turn a sick or dying plant over to Kathy only to have it returned healthy and vibrant. She experimented in cooking and baking and crafts such as weaving and sewing; some of the small ways Kathy expressed her creativity. Kathy was an insatiable history buff with deep interests in the Civil and World Wars, historical biographies of world leaders and monarchy.
Kathy was just as likely to be found reading as she was to be in the company of friends or family at a party. She was a true lover of day trips to explore small local towns, loved classic cars and could be easily found either riding in a boat or on a horse. She had a great appreciation of music ranging from Scott Joplin to Earth, Wind and Fire to Tchaikovsky of which she instilled in all who stayed long enough to listen with her.
Kathy was a woman of kindness, exuberance and a fierce spirit. Anyone in her company were treated with warm welcome and all too easily found themselves accepted, loved and swept off into adventure as a member of the family. Her laugh and smile always infectious.
None who met Kathy stepped away without feeling loved and genuinely cared for. Kathy’s compassion and playful attitude won her countless lifelong friends. Kathy bestowed her passion for life and people on her daughters, Mary Frances Tripp and Mary Caroline Tripp as well as her nieces Ali, Kathleen Rose, Maura, Brydie and Kate and nephews Liam and Joe; great nieces Sophia, Ainsley, Matilda and Emma Jean and great nephew Sadiq.
Kathy passed away on March 15th, 2019; succumbing to injuries sustained in a tragic traffic accident. Kathy lives on in her family but in a final act of compassion Kathy was a registered organ and tissue donor and has given the gift of life and healing to others in need.
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