Colleen Mannion Rhoades

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A funeral Mass and burial will be held for Colleen Mannion Rhoades at 10:30 a.m., Aug. 6, at St. Frances De Chantal Church and Cemetery, Randolph.

She will be buried next to her brother John Frances Mannion, who died in 1971.

Family and friends are invited back to the church hall immediately following the inurnment for a luncheon and a continued celebration of Colleen’s life.

Colleen is the daughter of Paul and Toni Mannion. She was born March 11, 1949, in Coleridge and is number seven in the Mannion family of 13 children, including Joe Mannion (Yolanda), Kansas City, Mo.; Dennis Mannion (Fran), Melbourne, Fla.; Jerry Mannion (Norma), Huntington Beach, Calif.; Mary Duffy (Don), O’Neill; Kathy Sullivan (Rich), Norfolk; Tom Mannion, Highland, Ill.; Dave Mannion (Louise), Linn Creek, Mo.; Vicki Conway (Pat), Hartley, Iowa; Steve Mannion (Elizabeth), Austin, Texas; Ray Mannion (Lisa), Wake Forest, N.C.; Deb Campbell (Mike), Kansas City, Mo.

Colleen graduated from St. Francis de Chantal High School and went on to study at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine. She began a career in radiological technology in 1970 that took her to Kansas City, Mo., where Colleen lived until her death Feb. 24, 2022.

Colleen married Michael Donald Rhoades July 31, 1976. The couple had three children. Mike preceded her in death in 2019.

Colleen is greatly missed by her son and two daughters and their spouses, Adam Rhoades (Kim), Dallas, Texas; Sarah Gouttierre (Nestor), Kansas City, Mo.; Samantha Stull (Sean), Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, who knew her as Grandma M&M, Sophie Gouttierre, 12; Vienna Gouttierre, 10; Wolfgang Gouttierre, 7; and Morgan Stull, 5.

She was very involved in their lives and activities, almost never missing a soccer, softball or basketball game and always bringing the treats.

Colleen had an infant granddaughter who preceded her in death, Brooklyn Stull, in 2015.

Colleen dedicated herself to working with children. She had a long career as an X-ray technician at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City. She was also a devoted volunteer at St. Peter’s Church and School. She ran the hot lunch program for many years. There she set an excellent example by being committed to helping school families with recycling. In the early 1980s, she was truly ahead of her time in taking steps to save our planet. Wherever she went, she’d collect plastic and cans to be sure they made it to a recycle bin.

Colleen was a collector of many things (especially unique antiques) and, like her mother, Toni Mannion, she was a maker of many things. Fabrics, yarns, threads, buttons and beads were plentiful at M&M’s. Colleen also collected rosaries, and prayed them every day.

One of Colleen’s biggest accomplishments and what she will always be remembered for is her love of “clowning,” She graduated from Clown College in 1983. As a professional clown, she brought her unique humor, joy and magic to oh so many birthday parties, weddings, family reunions and gatherings as well as to many schools and nursing homes. Colleen loved making people laugh! And truly - she was funny! She was also very wise! She was that one person that so many family and friends turned to for advice. She was deeply compassionate and empathetic, always listening without judgment and with a big open heart.