Kendra Ann Heller

Kendra Ann Heller, age 48, was born on April 30,1976, at the Medical Center of Independence, MO to parents Charles Richard Heller and Geraldine Ann Lohr Heller. Kendra was baptized at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Mission, Kansas.

Kendra attended the Lee Anne Britain Infant Development Center at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, and attended hundreds of physical therapy sessions in both Kansas and Missouri. Kendra has received many "NO LION, I've Been Tryin" awards from past therapists who confessed enjoyment in working with her due to the "give it her all" efforts to learn. Kendra excelled in swimming at the age of 3 months by swimming underwater the width of an Olympic pool! The problem was simply that someone would have to take her out of the water because she didn't understand that she needed to come back up to the top. When she did however, even at that age, she grinned knowing that she'd done a great job! Kendra enjoyed many activities such as community dances, family reunions, bowling, Worlds of Fun rides (especially the ones that splashed water on her), bike riding at the park, picnics, swings, and hippotherapy. At Midnight Farm in Baldwin City, KS, Kendra's riding skills took both first and second place ribbons at one of their yearly rodeos. Kendra and her cousin Melissa enjoyed a fishing tournament at Deanna Rose Park where she did not win anything but that might be because she liked to hold on to her fish (Literally...holding them in her hand!)

Kendra's hands were very sensory aware. Her cousins, Jared and Annie, introduced Kendra to wavy shoestrings. She wore them, tied round her waist, running her hands back and forth on the curly shapes just to feel those strings! She loved them! She grew to have strings of color for every outfit she ever wore...Mom learned, everyone learned...Go nowhere without Kendra's shoestrings!

Kendra enjoyed several modes of transportation, even so much as imitating some of their sounds, especially fire trucks, and police car sirens; in addition to her riding an elephant, horse, camel, Nas car racer driven by cousin Tammy, helicopter, golf cart, hay wagon, ambulance, fire truck, car, truck, motorcycle, snow-sled, limousine, mini cooper convertible, adaptive tricycle, bicycle, wagon, wheelchair, rolling stander, gait trainer walker, and pontoon boat, and probably some forgotten others! She loved moving and traveling no matter what method she needed to take. Kendra rode a battery-operated car, independently, operating the joystick, through the halls and out onto the sidewalks of KNI. She "drove" herself from building to building while attending school classes, all the while being closely followed by attendants who were keenly aware of Kendra's desire to roam and adventure....

Kendra enjoyed the music of Shania Twain, so she and family attended a concert at Sprint Center in Kansas City. When Shania rode a boom extension out over the crowd while seated on a saddle, she was within 10 feet of Kendra. Everyone with Kendra thought she would jump out of her chair because she was so excited! She was screaming, clapping, laughing and smiling! Kendra really enjoyed music wherever she was, attending many sidewalk and bluegrass jam sessions, listening to live bands at area farmer's markets or singing with her cousin, Melissa. They made a good team as they sat in the backyard swing. Melissa would play the guitar and sing, and Kendra would "sing", scream, clap, and smile! A favorite request was always "You are My Sunshine". Kendra loved singing in the car with family to the Iris DeMent song "Go On Ahead and Go Home" because it had the word "Momma" in it. Kendra recently went on vacation to visit family in Ga., she loved the singing of cousins Vicky and Michele, and Mom, while riding in the car! In the past, Kendra also performed live with her Mom at Crown Center in Kansas City, while accompanied by Dan DeLuca. Kendra wasn't actually supposed to sing, but Kendra had a live mic in her hand and boy did she sing! the audience loved it! Kendra loved their clapping, so she just kept "singing"! She loved an audience! It is also known by her friends and family, that she could possibly hold a Guinness Book record for the number of times she watched the movie "Grease".

Kendra received her High School Diploma while residing at The Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka, Kansas. Within a small class of four, Kendra was one of two that actually graduated! When the Director called her name, to come forward and receive her diploma from his outstretched hand; Kendra had a plan of her own; she had spotted an empty hallway, out a door, on the other side of the room. So, she rolled right past the Director, did not take the diploma, and left promptly to roll about in the empty hallway. Kendra had a well-focused mind of her own and she dearly loved adventure! The entire room of attendees started laughing, so Mom helped Kendra out; by picking up the extended diploma so Kendra could do as she wished and enjoy her ride...after all, she had just graduated! Kendra took pride in being as independent as possible and her mom encouraged her to be self- motivated whenever possible and safe to do so.

Kendra is survived by her mother, Geraldine (Jeri) Heller-Cook, and half-brother Jon Charles Heller, and many aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. She has been preceded in death by her father, Charles Richard Heller and paternal grandparents, Charles Oscar Heller and Catherine Roberta Heller, and also maternal grandparents, Bernard Henry Lohr, and Vergie Marie Sanders Lohr. Sister, Lori Ann Collyer also preceded Kendra in death, as have multiple Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

It will never be known how many lives Kendra touched in her lifetime, but many have been blessed simply by knowing her. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Terrace Park Funeral Home on Saturday, January 4th, with visitation at 1:00pm, followed by the funeral service at 2:00pm.