Doris Daly Finholm

Beloved and devoted wife of Thomas M. Finholm, who predeceased Mom on June 6, 2010; greatly loved mother, adored grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Friday, June 22, 2012, surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, June 25th, 2:00 p.m., at Church of the Ascension, 9510 West 127th St., Overland Park, KS. Private burial. Visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., one hour prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 8745 James A. Reed Rd, Kansas City, MO 64138 or Salvation Army, P.O. Box 412577, Kansas City, MO 64141.

Our Mother, the granddaughter of Irish immigrants, was born to William and Catherine Daly in Jersey City, New Jersey, the youngest of two daughters. Mom graduated from Snyder High School in Jersey City and the Katharine Gibbs School of Business in Manhattan, New York. Mom met the love of her life, our Dad Tom, on a dance floor in Jersey City when she was 18 years old and together they danced to a love song for the next 68 years. Mom and Dad moved to Johnson County in 1950, arriving by train at Union Station with the first three of their eventual seven children and settled in Prairie Village.

Mom was the heart and soul of our family. Her devotion to our Dad and the depth of their love was obvious to all who knew them. Mom was kind and unselfish, always putting others first. She was deeply thoughtful, always listened and didn’t pass judgment. She demonstrated an indomitable spirit, unending strength and tender kindness. Her warm personality and welcoming smile brought happiness to anyone who met her. She took the greatest pleasure in her children, she loved us deeply and in her last days the words she would utter were “I love you.” She was a beautiful woman both inside and out. We did not know until we were grown and saw in her high school yearbook that she was voted Most Beautiful and also Most Genuine.

Our Mom was fun! Some moms sew, some moms garden, our Mom danced! She danced endlessly with our Dad, with each of us, and if no one was around, she danced with a doorway! Music was part of her. Our “Hi-Fi” was always going. She loved God, her family, her country, her relatives and friends, her many beloved pets throughout the years, and all things Irish. She especially loved St. Paddy’s Day and proudly wore her green high heels, green hats, and cooked her corned beef and cabbage for the family. Mom loved a good cup of coffee, a good book, the music of Frank Sinatra, a sparkling clean house, Chinese food, singing, Saturday night parties at her house, Christmas Eve with all her family gathered around her, trips with Dad, and a good joke (she always laughed the hardest)!

Our Mother loved and appreciated all children and celebrated with the greatest joy the births of her own seven children, her one dozen grandchildren and her 14 great-grandchildren, her “greats” as she called them. She often said how privileged she was to see her “greats” come into the world. Most of all, Mom loved our Dad unconditionally and no greater gift can a parent give to their child.

Mom leaves behind to celebrate her beautiful life her children and their spouses, Doris Sweeney (Tony) of Overland Park; Kathryn Hines (Dr. Richard) of Leawood; Thomas Finholm (Julie) of Overland Park; William Finholm of Lawrence; Mary Cray of Overland Park; Daniel Finholm of Lenexa and Robert Finholm of Chicago. She also leaves her grandchildren and their spouses James English (Maria); Thomas English (Lisa); Amy Kapsalis (Bill); Kelli Robbins; Matt Finholm; Katy Corrigan (Brian); Maureen Howell ( Dr. Mike); Rich Cray (Ashley); Lisa Finholm; Tommy Finholm; Betsy Weber (Mike); and Billy Finholm. She also leaves her great-grandchildren, Tommy, Connor, Megan, Courtney, Cody, Mallory, Ryan, Drew, Jackson, Drew H., Charlie, Anna Mae, Tommy K., Baxter and two little ones on the way. Additionally, Mom leaves her cherished nieces, Muriel Thomas and Patricia Woodard, both of Virginia, her loving sister-in-law, Mildred Hartung, and loving brother-in-law, Dan Finholm, both of Denver, and many other nieces and nephews across the country. Mom was predeceased by infant twin grandsons, Kevin and Keith Anderson, her sister, Muriel Killoran and her son-in-law, Richard Cray.

Mom, you were our shining light throughout all our lives. You were the essence of love. You were patiently there for each of us, always. Somehow you made each of us feel as if we were an only child. We will miss you, Mom, more than we can say but take the greatest comfort in knowing that one day we will be together again. We love you, our precious Mother.