Athena Molina

Athena Patires Molina, age 90, was surrounded by family as she passed peacefully to her heavenly home on July 7, 2024. Born on March 18, 1934, Athena was the beloved daughter of Mamie “Peggy” and George Patires of Kansas City, Missouri, and lived in the Kansas City Metro area all her life. Athena had a deep faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, which led her to cherish and cultivate relationships with family and friends as well as nature’s beauty.

Athena graduated from Central High School in Kansas City, Missouri, where she excelled in music. She played violin in the school orchestra and flute in the concert band, and she also sang in the school choir. During high school, Athena took violin lessons at the UMKC Conservatory of Music, where she honed her skills and developed a lyrical quality in her playing. Later in life, she played violin in community orchestras, including performances for the musicals "Oklahoma" and "Music Man" at Theatre in the Park. Athena also sang in her church choir and shared her musical talents by teaching family, friends, and neighbors how to play the violin and even the trumpet. Music remained one of her greatest joys throughout her life.

Her father passed away when she was 17. Several years later, her mother married John M. “JM” Jackson, who owned a family nursery. Through JM, Athena found her love for plants, fostering a lifelong passion for gardening. Athena became well-known for her green thumb, capable of growing anything. She loved everything that bloomed and was highly regarded by friends and family for her ability to cultivate a wide variety of plants.

Athena met the love of her life, Eliseo “Cheo” or “Mo” Molina, after he returned to Kansas City following his service with the Marine Corps during the Korean War. They met while both worked in electronics at Bendix, handling high-security military projects. They married in 1961 and lived in Kansas City, Missouri until 1966 when they moved to Shawnee, Kansas. Shortly before moving to Shawnee, Eliseo changed jobs to work at Trans World Airlines, which allowed them to travel the world. Athena was a voracious reader and avid learner, and she cherished their trips to Europe, especially the Greek island of Zante. The family trips to European cities were steeped with learning about the history of the area. She and Eliseo also enjoyed spending every winter in the warm sun of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Athena and Eliseo were blessed with two children: son Phillip, born in 1962, and daughter Cristina, born in 1964. Athena was an amazing cook, blending her Greek heritage and Eliseo’s Mexican heritage into wonderful culinary creations. Her specialties included lamb, baklava, spanakopita, enchiladas, tamales, and Greek Easter Egg bread. She would study several recipes, then experiment to create her own unique variations. Anything pre-prepared was “doctored”, as she would say. Athena was always confident in her opinions, and never afraid to share them. Because she didn’t follow recipes, Athena would invite those interested to watch her cook. She loved sharing her creations with family and friends, cherishing the personal visits and the joy her cooking and baking brought to others.

She was deeply involved in her community, teaching sewing and crochet in Johnson County 4-H, and was very active in the grade school Parent Teacher Association, where she was honored with a lifetime PTA membership from the Rhein Benninghoven PTA. Athena loved to go ballroom dancing with Eliseo, sometimes going twice a week with two different instructors.

Athena is survived by her husband Eliseo; her son Phillip and his wife Penny of Brooklyn, Wisconsin; her daughter Cristina Molina of Shawnee, Kansas; her grandson Austin Klein and granddaughter Ashley Klein, both of Leawood, Kansas; her grandson William Beatty of Madison, Wisconsin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss her dearly. She treasured monthly lunches with Eliseo’s siblings and their spouses, enjoying Mexican Train Dominos and the joy of being together.

Athena's warmth, generosity, and love for her family and friends will be deeply missed. Her legacy of faith, music, gardening, cooking, and community service lives on in all who knew her.

A visitation will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Multi-Ministry Room (MMR) at Christ Lutheran Church in Overland Park. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, July 23, at 10:30 am in the church sanctuary, with a light luncheon taking place after the service in the MMR. Athena will be laid to rest at Leavenworth National Cemetery following lunch. All are welcome to join.

The family requests that you wear your favorite floral attire or something colorful to celebrate Athena’s love for nature and to remind ourselves that she is now enjoying a garden more beautiful than we can imagine.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Athena's memory to City Union Mission, 1100 East 11th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106, or to the Kansas City Symphony, PO Box 219135, Kansas City MO 64121-7266.