Our sweet, beautiful angel, Connie Rose "Nani" Haggerty, entered Heaven on May 28th, 2020, as her loving family prayed the Holy Rosary together. Nani was the mother of ten children and thirty-three grandchildren, whom she loved and adored and who loved and adored her in return.

Nani was born on January 31, 1939, to Anthony and Rose Ann RaGusa, the second of four daughters. In 1952, she met the love of her life, Gary Haggerty. They started as students from rival grade schools before becoming high school sweethearts at Glennon High. They would then go on to marry after college on March 10, 1962, and from this union, she found her true calling – that of a wife, mother, and Nani.

Nani sacrificed so much for her children and grandchildren. She was a devout Roman Catholic who attended mass weekly. She never wavered in her faith in God. Her family was often reminded to put everything in God's hands. Put your trust in God. He will never fail you. Her life was as beautiful as she was, and she made every day a celebration of the life God chose for her.  Her family is blessed to have been part of her celebration and she made them always feel so special. Her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family. The Haggerty family never needed a special event to celebrate because going to Nani's house with all the siblings and cousins WAS a celebration. In fact, no one was more excited about snow days than our mother. The ritual of hot chocolate and homemade chocolate chip cookies meant a day of celebrating…together.

Our Nani didn't just wear the love for her children and her grandchildren on her sleeve, she displayed it proudly on her coat or jacket with the many sports buttons that showed the world how proud she was of her children and grandchildren and their many talents. If that wasn't enough, she would take out the "brag book" of pictures she carried in her purse to show her immense pride. She attended every game, whether watching them play or coach. She was our biggest cheerleader, at games and in life.

She was loving, supportive, beautiful, smart, strong, an amazing cook, confident and a great writer. Her annual birthday cards to her children and grandchildren was like getting a beautifully written book in the card that highlighted that year and what we meant to her. Always ending it with being thankful for God's many blessings and His gifts He has given to us.

Our Nani also had this magic cupboard – whatever she pulled out of it would turn into the most delicious meals. As her children got older and moved out, she would take her talent and love of cooking on the road with her husband behind the wheel. The family called it Nani's Meals on Wheels as she drove to each house with carry out containers of the best food inside. If she wasn't delivering meals, she did her ritual of driving by all her kids houses to ensure they were safe and sound.

Outside of her family, sweet Nani's wants and needs were small; although, she did love her "Big" refillable QT Cokes, going to the "boats", eating butter popcorn at the movie theater, and writing in her journals.  She loved to make up lyrics and sang everything in song to her children when they were younger and her grandchildren. She was fearless and adventurous. She loved traveling to Destin for the annual family trip in the RV and staying in a large beach house to accommodate every member of her family. She loved rollercoasters, even riding the largest one in the country. She was fortunate to travel to Israel to see the birthplace of Jesus.

Nani also had a deep love for animals – all animals. There is no doubt her animals that went before her waited for her to walk through those gates of Heaven. Little but mighty, Nani was a force. Whether she was caring for her children and grandchildren, teaching in the classroom or advocating as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with CASA, Nani had so much energy and love to give to others. Her sweet smile said it all and people put all their trust in her. Her strong faith in God was a calming force for many. She believed so much in the power of prayer that she would often be sought out to come visit loved ones in hospitals or pray for their special intentions. She was known by many to have a direct line to God. Nani was a gift from God that will forever be cherished by her family and so many she touched.

Our sweet, beautiful Nani battled in her recent years with cancer and never complained. Her incredible strength showed her true courage and that she was a tough fighter. She fought for the love of her family and fought hard to the end. The family was so blessed to have had a caring medical team that showed our mom and Nani nothing but love. To all the doctors, nurses, and home healthcare, thank you. We also want to thank all of you that prayed for our mom during her courageous battle.

There are not enough lines to write about this beautiful wife, mother, and Nani. There is a huge void in our lives but as she would say – we put it in God's Hands. Jesus, we place our trust in thee. She is deeply missed and will now serve as our Guardian Angel watching over her family.

Nani was preceded in death by her parents, Rose Ann and Anthony RaGusa, who are exuberantly welcoming her with loving arms into Heaven, her sisters, Nancy RaGusa, and Jo Marie RaGusa, and her brothers-in-law, James Day, William Haggerty, and Hugh Haggerty. She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Gary, her ten children and their loving spouses – Christine and Jim DeMarea, Lisa and Barry Ginter, Brigitte Haggerty, Gary and Lisa Haggerty, David Haggerty, Anthony and April Haggerty, Jennifer and Shane Stufflebean, Michael and Allison Haggerty, Mary Rose Haggerty, and Danny Joe and Sarina Haggerty, twenty seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren, whom she prayed for each by name: Christine Ashley, Courtney, Justin, Jared, Victoria, Alexis, Leah Rose, Anthony Carl, Michael, Vincent, Nicholas, Jacqueline, Michael James, Anna, Liliana, Joseph, Lauren, Jenna, Madelyn, Jack, Andy, Carl, Emily, William, Sophia, Luke, Vivienne, Caylynn, Cameron, Ryleigh, Addison, Ava Rose, and Emmie.  She is also survived by her sister, Antoinette "Toni" Day, along with many nieces and nephews.

A private service will be held at Nativity of Mary Catholic Church in Independence, MO, with burial following at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers and donations, the Haggerty family asks that you say a prayer together as a family. Please visit and share memories and stories of our sweet mom at www.passantinobros.com