Marie Elaine Brancato passed away on Friday, April 30 ^th , 2021 at the age of 58, surrounded by her husband and children.

Family and friends will honor her life on Monday, May 3 ^rd , at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, KCMO.  The visitation will be from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, reflections will begin at 2:15 PM, immediately followed by the Mass of Christian Burial. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that all contributions will be given to the Sister Servants of Mary and the Tisch M.S. Research Center of New York.

Marie was born on January 10 ^th , 1963 and was the third of four children of Mary Jo and Victor Joseph Fontana, and thus her legacy began.

Marie met the love of her life when she was just a little "tom boy" running around the Highland Park neighborhood.  She would later claim at first she thought him to be annoying. But then at fourteen, before she was old enough to date, Dominic invited her to dinner.  After approval from her father, the romance that would last nearly 44 years began.  Dominic was the high school football star and Marie was the captain of the cheerleaders; theirs was a storybook romance.

Teaching others just came naturally to Marie. She followed in her mother's footsteps and earned her degree in education.   During her early years of marriage, Marie taught elementary education.  Soon thereafter, Marie traded the classroom for motherhood and her teachings continued to her own children, and all those who were lucky enough to be close to her, through her actions on how to live a fulfilled and loving life with grace, kindness, selflessness, strength, and above all family. A common rule she taught was "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" even though she broke that rule a few times herself.

Marie's greatest and highest calling was that of being a mom to her daughter Marie and sons Joe Frank and Victor Joe.  This bond shared among Marie and her children was a combination of pure love, admiration, respect and simply enjoying being with each other.  Her warmth drew her children to the family home on most days and always on Sundays.  The laughter they shared as a family was so true and genuine.  The relationship she enjoyed with her children truly defined motherhood.  Life was further enriched when she was blessed with granddaughters Rosalie and Josephine and grandsons John Frank and Dominic. Marie's strength and will to survive was rewarded with her being able to hold each of her grandchildren.  As the family home filled with each new grandchild, Marie was right there playing with them and enjoying each day.  Marie so loved and enjoyed the silliness, happiness, and laughter that only grandchildren can bring.  Being with them were some of her most cherished days.

Marie was a beautiful person inside and out.  If you met Marie, you immediately appreciated her simply kind and caring soul.  She somehow was the most gentle, graceful and kind-hearted woman mixed with the strongest will imaginable.  Marie lived her life with a level of selflessness that was simply unmatched.  No matter her own personal health challenges, she always was the first to inquire of how someone else was feeling, how someone else was doing and made the other person the focus of her attention.  No matter her own personal battles, she always put others first.

She is preceded in death by her father Victor Joseph Fontana, and brother, Frank Charles Fontana. She is survived by her husband, Dominic of nearly 36 years; her children and spouses, Marie and Joe Strada, Joseph Frank and Jordan Brancato, and Victor Joseph and Tanner Brancato; her grandchildren Rosalie, John, and Dominic Strada, Josephine Brancato, and one on the way; her mother, Mary Jo Fontana; her sisters Cathy Calia, Carol Belfonte (Henry), sister-in-law Jennifer Fontana; and father-in-law and mother-in-law Joe And Marie Brancato and Family.

Pallbearers include: Joseph Brancato, Joseph Pisciotta, Joe Joe Brancato, David John Belfonte, Salvatore Belfonte, Victor Fontana, and Victor Calia.

Honorary Pallbearers: Tommy Calia, Frank Pisciotta, and Johnny Brancato.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7