Rhoda Mears Hussey

May 22, 1925 - October 19, 2023
Rhoda Mears Hussey was an amazing 98 years old when she died peacefully on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at her home in Lakeview Village. She was born May 22, 1925, in Homestead, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Rose and Elmer Mears. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. After graduation, she went to work as an executive secretary for the President of the Gulf Oil Corporation until her first child arrived.
Rhoda married the love of her life, Bill, on June 27, 1947 (which was also the date of her beloved parents' anniversary). Later in life she went back to teaching and was the Department Head and business teacher at Shawnee Mission South High School until they retired and moved to the Florida Keys. They returned to the Kansas City area in 1985 to be close to grandchildren and family.
Rhoda was an avid quilter, entering many of her quilts in shows. She loved to travel, read, play card games and bridge with friends. She was a swimmer in high school and college and continued her love of swimming for most of her life. She loved watching her baseball games, especially the Kansas City Royals, and KU Jayhawk basketball. She was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Mission, Kansas. The beach was her happy place and she cherished any time she got to spend at the ocean.
Rhoda is survived by her three children, Bill and Linda Hussey (Goodyear, AZ), Susan Hall (Frisco, TX) and Lisa Reinhard (Jacksonville, FL), along with her seven grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She was known as "Mimi" to Drew and Lisa Hussey, Brett and Ashton; Lauren and Dave Richards, Dylan and Beau; Adam and Jackie Hall, Olivia and Claire; Amanda and Johnny Quinn, Amelia and Oliver; Sean Dearman; Neil and Hannah Dearman; Jeff and Tessa Dearman. She also leaves her three nieces that she dearly loved, Rosemary MacMath, Peggy Gould and Robin Metroka. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents, Rose and Elmer Mears, her brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Elmer Mears Jr and Betty Lou Mears, her nephew, Elmer "Bub" Mears III, and many dear lifelong friends.
A private family memorial is being planned for a future date.
Her family was absolutely everything to her and she lived a life of great love and adventure. She left behind an incredible legacy of a life well-lived.
"Yesterday is but a dream. Tomorrow is but a vision.
But today well-lived makes everyday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day."