Barbara T. LaSota

Barbara Teresa LaSota, 90, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 22, 2026. She was born on January 27, 1936, in New York City, the oldest daughter of Louise (Hermann) Miller and Marvin Miller.

Barbara was born on Governor’s Island when it still served as a military base. She spent much of her childhood on Long Island before moving to New Harmony, Mississippi, for high school. After graduation, she moved to St. Louis to pursue a career in business, where she had the great fortune of meeting the love of her life, Thomas “Tom” LaSota, who was then beginning his career with General Motors. Together, their life journey took them from St. Louis back to Kansas City, then to Detroit, Atlanta, and Gladstone, New Jersey, where they made their home for sixteen years before eventually returning to Kansas City.

Barbara earned an associate degree in business from Raritan Valley College in New Jersey. She worked as an advertising manager for the Hurley Agency, an insurance brokerage based in Far Hills, New Jersey. After returning to Kansas City, she spent fifteen years as the office manager for the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City.

Whether with family, friends at the JCC, neighbors in Deer Creek, or the caregivers who lovingly cared for her in her final years, Barbara brought joy and laughter wherever she went. She had a gift for making people feel cherished, welcomed, and safe. Even when Alzheimer’s disease slowly stole her ability to verbalize, her spirit still shone through in her characteristic eye rolls, guffaws, and sighs. Her warmth, humor, and presence remained unmistakably there until the very end.

Barbara and Tom were blessed with two children: Cheryl LaSota Bundy (Bill) of New Canaan, Connecticut, and Todd LaSota of Marengo, Illinois. She was the proud grandmother of six grandchildren: Kate Bundy of New York, New York; Will Bundy of St. George, Utah; Ben Bundy, a student at Lehigh University; Baleigh LaSota of Harvard, Illinois; Hope LaSota of Kansas City; and Jake LaSota of Marengo, Illinois. She was also blessed with three great-grandchildren: Wilder Klenske, Juniper Klenske, and Fisher Klenske. Her family was her greatest joy, and she delighted deeply in every generation.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and Marvin Miller, and her brother, John Miller.

She is lovingly remembered by her devoted husband, Tom LaSota of Overland Park, Kansas; her sister, Renee Miller Harmon of New Harmony, Mississippi; her children, Cheryl Bundy (Bill) and Todd LaSota; her six grandchildren; her three great-grandchildren; and the many friends, coworkers, neighbors, and caregivers whose lives were brighter because they knew her.

Barbara was truly a ray of sunshine to all fortunate enough to encounter her. Whether you knew her for decades or met her only briefly, being in her presence left you feeling cared for, welcomed, and loved.

Her passing leaves an immeasurable void, but her spirit remains woven into the lives of her family and all who loved her. The memory of her laughter, kindness, and steadfast love will endure always.

The family will receive visitors from 6:00–8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at McGilley State Line Chapel, Kansas City, Missouri. A Rosary will begin at 5:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May 28, at 10:00 a.m. at Church of the Nativity, Leawood, Kansas. Burial will immediately follow the funeral service in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas.

To honor Barbara’s memory, contributions may be made to Church of the Nativity, the Alzheimer's Association, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Silver Hill Hospital (Labyrinth Fund).