Mary Jo Van Walleghem passed away peacefully at her home in Stilwell, Kansas on December 5, 2023, aged 82.
In 1979, she married Mike Van Walleghem, her loving husband who survives her. Mike and Mary Jo lived in Illinois and Wisconsin before returning to the Kansas City area in retirement.
Mary Jo had three children: Mike Carroll, Overland Park; Joe Carrol, Prairie Village; and Tom Carroll, who predeceased her. Her sons brought eight grandchildren into the family: Richard Carroll, Megan Dye, Molly Carroll, Audrey Carroll, Olivia Carroll, Francis (Franco) Carroll, Kaylyn Browser and Karynn Carroll. Mary Jo also had three great-grandchildren.
Mary Jo was born October 14, 1941. She had an idyllic childhood as one of nine children who grew up on the family cattle ranch near Hiattville, Kansas. Her parents were Joseph O'Bryan and Rosemary Rendina O'Bryan. Her siblings are W.W. O'Bryan, Savina Schoenhofer (partner Gwen Bussa, daughter Carrie, and granddaughter Emma Ward), Mike O'Bryan (Susan, deceased), Patrick O'Bryan (partner Tim Towner), Maggie Meetz, Daniel O'Bryan (Lyn), and Joseph O'Bryan (Vicki) both deceased (his second wife, Karen survives), and Kathleen McCroskey.
The family wishes to thank Mary Jo's caregivers, Natalee Raymond, Tigis Dehna, and Jackie Coleman, who provided compassionate care during her final illness.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul, Kansas, on January 19, 2024, at 10 a.m.
