Mary Theresa Accurso passed away March 11, 2025, at the age of 90. Services will be held on Friday, March 21, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Entombment will be at Mount Moriah Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary's honor to Brighton Hospice or St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Mary's life was rich with family, faith and friends. She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri on 43rd and Forest in a beautiful stone shirtwaist house. She attended St. James grade school and Lillis High School, making many life long friends at both schools. She helped plan numerous high school reunions with the "fighting Irish" clan. Those were the days of sitting on the front porch visiting with neighbors, grade school and high school dances, dressing up and taking the street car to go downtown shopping. Mary shared many joyful memories of her childhood and teenage years.

Her childhood was not without challenges. Her father died when she was only eight years old and her brother Joe was a prisoner of war in World War II, soon after. Her brother Angelo, his wife Ruth, and her niece Mary Lou lived with Mary and her mom, Lucy, in the house on Forest until Joe came back from the war. Joe and his wife Josephine then lived with Mary and her mother until she graduated from high school, taking care of Mary and Lucy lovingly and generously. He made sure they had everything they needed and much more.

Mary was an "out south" Italian girl but her heart was in Kansas City's North End. Oh, the stories she told about all the parties, picnics and time spent with her Italian buddies who she remained close friends with to the end. One of her most treasured adventures was a Florida vacation her brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Josephine, took her and her dear friend Sugie Donnici-DiCapo on when they were 18.  They reminisced about this trip on many occasions. She met Sugie in the North End when they were just 11 years old and they remained close their whole lives.

Mary also has a great love story that brought her and her husband of 67 years, Walter, together. They married and lived in the Forest house where they continued to take care of Mary's mom, Lucy. Their three kids started their lives in that loving home on Forest, going to the same grade school as Mary and having a grandmother that devoted her life to their care. Their family life was filled with joyous gatherings where food, laughter, cousins and friends were together. They took their kids on family vacations almost every year, traveling to Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, Florida and California. Many of those vacations were with their close friends and their friends' kids, and the tradition was repeated as their kids became life-long friends with their friends' kids.

Mary worked as a secretary at AAA after high school until she married and started a family. Mary's photo was in the KC paper modeling one of the first seat belts! When the kids were older she worked at the Jewish Community Center, and then her last job was working for the Department of Agriculture. She always enjoyed working and making new friends and more stories.

Once the kids were on their own, more adventures ensued for Mary and Walt. Walt traveled for his job and Mary traveled with him for many years, shopping her little heart out while he worked. After Walt retired, they continued to travel extensively all over the country and internationally again with family and friends. Mary traveled to New York City with a group of her close friends for almost 20 years, making more great memories.

Mary and Walter also sang for the Fatima Choir for many years traveling all over the country to perform. They performed at the National Cathedral in Washington DC and with Andy Williams in Branson at Christmas time. Their abiding faith gave them strength throughout their lives and they were honored to sing in the choir. They instilled the importance of faith and their religious traditions by their example.

Above all, Mary's greatest pleasure was spending time with her family. Welcoming into this world her beloved grandchildren: Michael, Joey, Mary and Charlie and great-grandchildren, Enzo and Koto gave her the greatest joy. The many family dinners and holidays were filled with abundant food and much joy and  laughter. Mary always included friends outside of the family to share holidays and family gatherings. She was a great cook and carried on her mother's tradition of pasta and meatballs on Sundays and other specialties like stuffed pepper, stuffed artichokes and her famous cheesecake. She made cheesecake for her son, Joe's restaurant for over 25 years and was proud to have "Mary's cheesecake" on the menu.

Mary filled our lives with joy and laughter until the end. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, cousin, sister, auntie and friend. She touched many lives with her bright smile and gracious personality. Mary never met a stranger and had an impact on all she met. She was a great story teller and loved chatting with everyone. Walt waited in the car on many occasions as Mary worked the room on her way out of events and gatherings. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. I'm sure Walt was waiting for Mary as she came home to him. She just needed a couple more years to work the room before she was ready.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers that made Mary's life easier and brought her joy after Walter's passing. Especially Brie, Ann, Pam and Jackie's girls. During the few months she was at Colonial Village the staff provided Mary with the most loving and expert care. They loved on Mary and our family making that difficult time bearable. And finally, the short time Brighton hospice was in our lives made all the difference in Mary's peaceful ascent to heaven. We also want to thank Mary's niece, her namesake, Mary Theresa, and family friends, Ramona and Jodie as they kept Mary, Walt and family in flowers, food and loving support for much of the last few years. You are all loved beyond measure.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Walter J. Accurso , her parents, Nick and Lucy Charmella; her father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Raphael Accurso; her daughter-in-law, Carolyn Accurso; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph and Josephine Charmella and Angelo and Ruth Charmello; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Catherine and Joe LaSala; and many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She leaves to cherish her memory and continue to celebrate her life, her children, Anita (Don) McGuire, Cathy (Art) Accurso-Hadley, and Joseph Accurso; her grandchildren, Michael McGuire, Joseph McGuire, Mary McGuire and Charlie Rose Accurso; her great-grandchildren, Enzo McGuire and Koto McGuire; many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins and friends.

Pallbearers: Matt Hayden, Mike Ladd, Frank Benanti, Byron Williams, Danny Theiss, Len Dawson

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com