Mary Elizabeth Ricken

Forever an Angel

RICKEN, MARY ELIZABETH 'MARY BETH', age 15, on Tuesday, January 23, 2001, baptized into the hope of Christ's resurrection; beloved daughter of Gerald D. and Sheila J. Ricken (nee Kriegshauser) of Creve Coeur, MO; dear sister of Barbara Anne, Heidi Louise and William Gerhardt Ricken, all of the home; dear granddaughter of Wilfred G. and Dolores M. Ricken (nee Nett) of Garden Plain, KS and Robert E. and Mary Ann Kriegshauser (nee Babka) of Creve Coeur, MO; dear niece of John and Donna Fagan of Wichita, KS, Rod and Pat Feil of Wichita, KS, Jim and Sheryl Ricken of Haysville, KS, Ken and Linda Ricken of Wichita, KS, Jim and Ann Sigwing of Cheney, KS, Michael and Cathy Kohn of Clayton. MO, Dr. Chris and Patti Haffner of Frontenac, MO, Dave and Ellen Norburg of Lenexa, KS and Dr. Jeffrey and the late Joan Teckman of Rock Hill, MO and the late Mary Beth Kriegshauser; cousin of Erin Fagan, Ryan and Blake Feil, Andrew and Casey Ricken, Clayton Ricken, Hallie, Joe and Tommy Sigwing, Lauren, Liza and Jessica Kohn, Jenna and Chris Haffner, Matt, Casey and Mollie Norburg, and Nate Teckman; dear great-niece and friend to many.

Mary Beth was a Mass server and member of Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church and a graduate of the class of 2000 of Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic School. She is a former resident of Overland Park, KS and student of Cherokee Elementary School in Overland Park. She was a member of the freshman class of Saint Joseph's Academy. 

She loved laughing, scholastics, athletics, friends, family and life. She was an honor student and winner of numerous math contests, a member of the 1997 Pillar CYC City-County softball championship team, a published author, expert skier, baseball fan, soccer player, basketball player, fisherman, golfer, editor and great babysitter. Her ever-present smile will always be remembered as she lived by her motto, 'Life is short, laugh hard'. 

We wish to thank her wonderful healthcare providers, family, friends and angels for your love and support that have sustained us during her fifteen-month battle against cancer. The family has requested contributions to Mary Beth's Angels Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation established for the benefit of underprivileged children, 43 Chaminade Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141.

Funeral mass at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 26, 2001 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd., Saint Louis, MO 63108.   Interment at Resurrection Cemetery.  Visitation at Kriegshauser West Mortuary, 9450 Olive Blvd., Saint Louis, MO 63132 on Thursday, January 25, 2001 from 2-8 p.m.