Theresa Jeanne (Medved) Blackmer, 89, of Olathe, KS passed away April 16, 2015.

Theresa was born on October 28, 1925 in Kansas City, KS, daughter of the late Max Peter and Teresa (Strutzel) Medved. She spent her childhood in the Strawberry Hill district of Wyandotte County. After graduating from Ward High School in 1943, Theresa began her nurses’ training at St. Mary’s College in Leavenworth, Kansas. She then finished her training with two years at Providence Hospital.

After passing her State Board Exams in 1946, Theresa worked a couple of years at Providence. She then entered St. Louis University with the intension of getting her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. However, after returning home on vacation, she and her boyfriend, found they missed each other too much and decided to marry.

Theresa postponed her nursing career to raise her three children. She later returned to Providence and worked as a surgical nurse until her retirement. By then her children were married and she found time on her hands. She decided to return to nursing and worked weekends in nursing homes for fourteen years and retired at the age of 78.

Theresa was an avid traveler and visited many countries; two of her favorites trips were Russia and China She often would volunteer her time at middle schools sharing her travel experiences . She also enjoyed reading and keeping up with current events. She kept herself very busy during retirement by involving herself in clubs, enjoying day trips, going to the movies and dining out with her friends.

Theresa’s other love was her family. She very much enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren as well as her four siblings. Theresa is preceded in death by her parents and older brother, Mark Medved. She is survived by her three children (Mike (Stephanie) Blackmer, Elaine Blackmer, and Rebecca Blackmer{Charlie Visser}), four grandchildren (David (Jennifer) Blackmer, Melissa (Dan) Marsh, Scott (Liz) Blackmer and Hilary Haley) five great-grandchildren (Ian, Ellie, Lucy Blackmer, Benji Marsh, and Abby Blackmer), sisters Maxine Harman and Corrine Sullivan, brother Tom Medved, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Theresa will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Visitation and Services

Funeral Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 at the Holy Family Catholic Church at 274 Orchard Street, Kansas City, KS 66101. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Catholic Charities USA, P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, Maryland 21297-1066 or the Arthritis Foundation 1900 W. 75th Street, Suite 200, Prairie Village, KS 66208.