Eloise Marie Kavanaugh passed away at 89 on June 15,2025 at the Santa Marta Retirement Community in Olathe, Kansas.
Eloise was born on April 6,1936. The daughter of Fredrick and Eva (Westhusing) Tilling. She married Paul Kavanaugh on May 25th, 1957.
Eloise grew up on the family farm in Germantown, Missouri. She was a graduate of St. Francis Academy in 1954. After marrying in 1957 she raised a family of 6 children with her husband Paul near Chicago, Illinois. She went back to school to study the visual arts and used much of her spare time creating beautiful paintings in oil and watercolor, as well as ceramic pieces thrown on the wheel. After retiring to Montrose Missouri, she continued her passion for the arts, teaching art at a local school and building a kiln for pottery at her home. She traveled the country and overseas with her husband, and also after his passing. She moved to Lee’s Summit after Paul’s passing and then to the Santa Marta Retirement Community in 2021.
She was preceded in death by her parents Eva and Fred Tilling, husband Paul Kavanaugh, and two sons Robert Kavanaugh and Gerald Kavanaugh.
Eloise is survived by her sisters, Eileen Denno (Gordon), Velda Tilling and Freda Tilling. Her children John Kavanaugh, Paula Antonacci (Dave), Angela Baumgarter (Gerry), and Claudine Kavanaugh-Crossney (Joe); Grandchildren Michael Antonacci (Sarah), Beth Antonacci, Dominic Antonacci, Nicholas Baumgarter (Katie), Amy Baumgarter, Christine Valentine, Sabrina Crossney, Joey Crossney; and great grandson Daniel.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00am Friday, June 20,2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montrose, Missouri with visitation at 9:00am. Burial will follow at St. Ludger Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her husband Paul under the Care and direction of Consalus Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Parish or to the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be made at consalusfuneralhome.com.
