Maria Arroyo Medina, 94, a Northland resident of Kansas City, MO (formerly of Leavenworth, KS) passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at The Oxford Grand Assisted Living Facility. Maria was born May 14, 1928 to Fernando and Maria (Saldana) Arroyo in Juncos, Puerto Rico.
Maria was the definition of a family Matriarch. The dedication she exhibited as a wife to Staff Sergeant Ramon Medina was unfailing. The devotion she showered on her children was unwavering, and the endless love and affection she gave to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren could never be forgotten. Her friends adored her, and she never failed to offer loving, but very honest advice.
She spent her days doing the most difficult occupation in the world, a stay-at-home mother. Always cooking, baking, and making lunches – she woke before everyone. Making breakfast (her homemade oatmeal a huge favorite to us all), afternoon coffee with bread, cheese, and fruit was never missed, and after dinner she was the last one to lay her head down at bedtime. The only time ever given to herself was an afternoon novella.
Her humor could never be forgotten, nor her priceless crinkled expressions. She would chide us and tell us to eat well, as she often snuck sweets when she thought no one was looking. Ensuring that we all ate was a talent – she saw an empty plate and would proceed to shuffle us back to the kitchen for 1, 2, and sometimes 3 more helpings. Making sure we were wonderfully miserable and then proceeded packing us goody bags of leftovers to take home. When she discovered a favored cereal or snack one of us had, there were always 5-10 bags/boxes of it waiting for us to take home every time we visited. The impact and love bestowed upon us will never be forgotten and she leaves us all with a priceless piece of her that will be passed down for generations to come.
Maria was preceded in death by her husband, SSgt. Ramon Luis Medina; both parents, and a son, David Medina. She is survived by her children: two daughters: Eleonora Clark and her husband, Cameron of Leavenworth, KS; Maria Julia Girot and her husband, Joe of Locust Grove, GA; a son, Ramon and his husband, John Shackelford of Kansas City, MO; and a daughter-in-law, Dawn Medina Spencer; 7 grandchildren: Genevieve, Sarah, Paulina, Tanner, Noah, Luis and Jonathan; 6 great-grandchildren: Joclyn, Austin, Isabela, Rowan, Oscar, and Gabriele.
A Committal Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 26, 2022 at Leavenworth National Cemetery, 150 Muncie Road Leavenworth, KS. Memories of Maria and condolences to the family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
With broken heart and teary eyes I like to give my condolences to Medina Family. It feels like I have lost my mother for he second times. She was a family to me when I had none. The last time I saw her after30 years, she did not recognized me but then when I told her who I am she hugged me then we both cried. She has always been in in my heart and I will miss her always .
Prayer for Our Dearly Departed Aunt,
God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Sending love, hugs and comfort from our family to yours in your time of grief. We will miss Doña María and keep her in our hearts forever.
~Familia Rodriguez