Mary Carter

With heavy hearts and loving memories, we announce that Mary Carter, 97, of Kansas City, KS peacefully passed away on September 9, 2023. As a lifelong teacher, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, she touched and influenced countless lives in the community and beyond.

Mary, whose given name was Maria, was born to Stephen and Susanna Mollick on September 27, 1925 in Freeland, PA. The second-oldest of 6 children, she grew up with her brothers and sisters in Pennsylvania.

Ever the devout Catholic, Mary had wanted to become a nun until she met Clyde Carter while working in the Philadelphia naval shipyards during World War II. The two fell in love, were married on October 17, 1945 in Freeland, and moved to Clyde’s hometown of Kansas City, KS to start a family. They had 9 children and were happily married until Clyde passed away in 1987.

In later years, she was a Montessori school teacher at the Little House Montessori school located across from St. Agnes Church in Roeland Park, KS. She taught pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children at the Little House for 25 years. Many of Mary’s grandchildren attended Little House and recall fond memories of those years.

Mary’s passion was her family and her faith. She delighted in helping raise and watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they were babies and children, and savored visits with them until her final days. Even more, she enjoyed teaching them using Montessori school principles and talking about history, religion, and politics. She instilled feminist values in her grandchildren and was known to encourage the importance of education and even encouraged one of them to become the first woman president.

She kept her Eastern European roots alive by making her family pierogies and povitica bread that became holiday favorites for decades. Those traditions were passed down to some of her children, who continue making them today.

As much as her family duties kept her busy in Kansas City, she never forgot her hometown of Freeland, Pennsylvania and enjoyed taking trips to visit her brothers and sisters whenever she could. She had a strong relationship with her sisters and continued to stay in touch with them throughout the years. When asked who she was rooting for during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl in 2023, she said that she would root for her hometown, referring to Philadelphia.

Mary was a woman who was no stranger to sacrifice and who constantly worried if everyone had enough to eat. Throughout her life she had little time for herself, but did not complain. She kept the family laughing with her wit, sarcastic humor, and hilarious one liners. Most of all, she was a selfless mother and grandmother who loved deeply and cared considerably.

She is preceded in death by her husband Clyde, son, Stephen, and sister Agnes.

She is survived by 4 siblings; Helen, Betty, George, and Joe; 8 children; Susan Sutton (Keith), Daniel (Judy), Betsy, Chris (Diane), Theresa Benefield (Gary), David (Patty), Kevin (Debbie), and Edward (Kelly); Bonnie Kane (Tom), 16 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren who love and cherish her forever. We’ll miss you everyday. Love you more

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 10:00am at St. Agnes Catholic Church, burial will immediately follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 18, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at St Agnes Catholic Church with the Rosary being prayed at 6:00pm. The family suggests memorials be gifted to St Agnes Catholic Church or Kansas City Hospice.

For those unable to attend, please click HERE to view the livestreaming of Mary's Funeral Mass.