Mary A. (Janssen) Kemp

After battling COPD for over 8 years, Mary A. Kemp, of Lee’s Summit, MO. passed away Tuesday May 27^th at St. Luke’s Hospice House with sons Dennis, Michael and spouse Jim at her bedside.

Mary was born to Mary Margaret McDermott and Jack F. Janssen on 7/21/1940 in New York City and was raised in Ridgewood, NJ.  Mary was a graduate of Mount Carmel School in Ridgewood and St. Luke’s High School in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ and had many fond memories and lifelong friends from her youth.

Mary married Jim Kemp on October 5^th, 1963. They shared 50 years of devoted marriage, lived in all parts of the Country and raised four boys.   The family lived in St. Johnsbury, VT for 18 years and Mary had a special fondness and love for the people of the area and the beauty of the “Northeast Kingdom.” Retiring in 1998, the family settled in Lee’s Summit, MO.  Mary had enjoyed the outdoors – spending many hours at the beach, ball fields and camping with her four boys and husband.   In the later years, she enjoyed spending time with family including her 9 grandchildren, reading, practicing her faith and sharing her patriotic spirit.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Kemp; sons and their families: Kevin and Kelly, daughters Rebecca, Jennifer and Stephanie of Mansfield, MA; David and Marianne, daughters Kayla and Alexis of Randolph, NJ; Dennis and Stacie, daughter Mackenna and son Brady of Blue Springs, MO; Michael and Anne, daughter, Addison and son Mason of Shawnee, KS.  Mary is also survived by her brother Jack and sister-in-law Judy of The Villages, Florida; Sister Kathy and brother-in-law Richard Gotz of Hudson, MA; Sister-in-law Mary and her husband Edward Wermers of Mequon, WI and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary’s compassion for others is reflected in her wish that in lieu of flowers, people donate time to a charity or visit a home bound friend or relative in her name.

Services to celebrate Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, June 7^th, 2014.  An opportunity to gather and meet the family will start at 10:00AM to be followed by A Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00AM at Our Lady of the Presentation Roman Catholic Church, Lee’s Summit, MO.  All in attendance are invited to stay after mass for a lunch at the Parish. For more information please visit www.heartlandcremation.com.

A special thank you to lead nurse Delisa and St. Luke’s Hospice for their compassion and wonderful care in helping Mary and the family make this transition.

Visits: 6