Patricia Mary Ann Hoover

A visitation for Patricia will be held Friday, January 21, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Chapel Hill - Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, KS 66112. A mass of christian burial will occur Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 3024 N 53rd Street, Kansas City, KS 66104.

Pat was born November 11, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, to Pasquale DiOrio and Clara (Durbin) Beyer and was one of four children. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Bernard “Bun” Hoover, her parents, and her sisters Tina Guerra, Nan Euting, and her brother Tony DiOrio. She is survived by her three daughters, Cindy (Alfred) Lanning, Debbie (Jim) Rhodes, Gail (Kent) King, five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law JoAnn DiOrio, as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.

She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her love for family was a gift, and in that light, she created family traditions that continue through the generations. She enjoyed cooking and had the talent to taste a dish, go home, and recreate the meal without recipes. Family get-togethers were something she always looked forward to having and attending. Whether it was a gathering of two or thirty, having the family together brought her great happiness. Even at 90, she loved shopping and was quite the fashion statement.

Her past times were many. Spring through fall, she loved planting flowers and landscaping. During the winter months, her home was filled with winter cactus and other flowering plants. She and her late husband loved to spend time at their lake houses and going to casinos. An enthusiastic KC Chiefs and Royals fan, she was happier than the teams when they won the Super Bowl and World Series. Loving to learn new things and interested in investments, she started a local investment group and served as President of the WIN Investment Club. Christmas was her favorite time of year, and each year, she beautifully decorated her Christmas tree, yard, entryway, and home to be festive and full of joy. Her home was a holiday wonderland. When she was younger was an avid bowler. After her husband’s passing, she moved to an independent senior living apartment and made many new friends. She enjoyed the social time learning of her new friends growing up and living in countries from around the world, sharing a glass of wine, and plotting mischief.

Professional, after being a homemaker for 15 years, she followed her passions. She earned her cosmetology license after graduating from Calohan School of Beauty in 1968. Later she earned a college degree. After working for four years as a cosmetologist, Pat became a senior Cosmetology Instructor for Kansas City Kansas Board of Education Area Vocational Technical School (AVTS), where for 20 years, she was well-loved and respected by her students and colleagues. She loved teaching and working with her students. She received many awards as a cosmetology instructor and VICA advisor. Serving as a Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) student advisor, her student teams won first place in State Club Opening & Closing Procedure for eight years straight and first place in Prepared Speech Competition and Cosmetology Skills Competition. Additionally, her teams won first, second, or third place every year in the National Chapter Business Completion.

After retiring from teaching, Pat became the National Technical Chair for VICA’s National Chapter Business Procedure and National Leadership & Skills Conferences, a board member for the Kansas VICA Association, and held many other positions within the VICA association. She served as judge and trainer for many annual national VICA conferences, and for many years, schools across the country would bring her in to serve as a trainer for their VICA advisors.

If her life was not full enough, she worked for the State of Kansas Cosmetology Board State testing students for Cosmetology Licensing and was part of the group that wrote the assessments standards for the test. She was a volunteer with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program at Christ the King Church for many years. She served as secretary of the Retired Teachers Association and President of Wyandotte County Retired Teachers Association.

Her family loves her and will miss her greatly.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-butler.com for the Hoover family.