O’Brien, Genevieve 1925-2025 Springfield, Mo.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After living more than 100 years and surrounded by family, Genevieve O’Brien departed this world on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. She was born on Feb. 19, 1925, in St. Joseph, to Anthony and Mary Martha Wegenka.

Genevieve grew up in St. Joseph and after graduating from Central High School, married Edward Irving Jameson on Feb. 15, 1947. Together, they had one daughter. They were married a year, before Edward passed away from a heart ailment on Aug. 8, 1948.

Genevieve went on to marry Edwin Francis O’Brien on May 12, 1950, and travelled throughout Europe and the United States, as Edwin was in the military. Together, they had seven daughters. Edwin and Genevieve divorced many years later.

Throughout her life, Genevieve was devoted to caring for others. In addition to raising her eight daughters, she put herself through nursing school and spent many years working as an LPN at what was then Mt. Carmel Medical Center, in Pittsburg, Kansas. After retiring from the hospital, Genevieve worked briefly as a private duty nurse in Lamar, Missouri, before eventually moving to Springfield, Missouri, where she continued her private duty nursing for a time.

Genevieve loved nature. She enjoyed going to the Nature Center and bird watching, as well as taking long nature drives through the countryside. In her later years, she enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels outside the dining room window. Genevieve also loved solving jigsaw puzzles. She would stay up until the middle of the night, working on a puzzle, a hobby she passed on to many family members. In addition to her love of nature and puzzles, Genevieve was an avid reader. Her love of books was evident by the bookshelves filled with her favorite selections. As a devout Catholic, Genevieve was a member of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Cathedral for many years.

Genevieve is preceded in death by her daughter, Catherine Ann O’Brien; as well as her brothers, Tony and Greg Wegenka; and four sisters, Mary Hilgert, Rose Watkins, Elizabeth Slahorek, and Agnes Wegenka.

Genevieve is survived by her sister, Ann Sudo, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her daughters, Mary O’Brien, of Arlington, Virginia, Deborah (Skip) Colcord, of Taunton, Massachusetts, Gwendolyn O’Brien, of Alton, Illinois, Janet O’Brien, of Altus, Oklahoma, as well as Cindy Parker, Robin O’Brien, and Carolyn (John) Lakey, all of Springfield. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Heather Colcord, Jared Colcord, Devon Colcord, Cassie Parker, Andrea Parker, Adam Lakey, and Lindsey Lakey; as well as three great-grandchildren: Chase Colcord, Gavin Colcord, and Carter Crawford; along with many nieces and nephews.

A Rosary service will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 6 p.m., and visitation will follow until 8 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E. Seminole St., Springfield. A Funeral Mass, celebrating Genevieve’s life, will be Friday, March 28, 2025, 10:30 a.m., at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Cathedral, 533 South Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, Missouri, with a luncheon to follow. Interment ceremony will follow the luncheon at Resurrection Cemetery, 4531 West Division St., Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Cathedral.

Mom, we will miss you and always love you “A Bushel and a Peck, and a Hug around the neck.” As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.