LEAWOOD, Kan. — Friends and family of Terri LaManno, one of the victims of Sunday’s shootings, attended a prayer service for her Monday morning at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church.
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Father Stephen Cook asked the parish to come together to support and comfort Terri’s family and all who loved her.
LaManno, a long standing member of the church, was killed in the parking lot of Village Shalom in Leawood on her way to visit her mother who lives there; a trip she made most every Sunday. Her sister-in-law says Terri was taking her mom something to eat.
“It’s just so impossible to wrap your head around why we would lose such a lovely soul like Terri in such a senseless act of violence and hate,” said Nicola Heskett, the Executive Director at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired.
Friends, family and others who loved 53-year-old Terri LaManno want her to be remembered for how she lived, not how she died.
LaManno, we’re told, was an adoring wife to her husband, Jim, and their three adult children.
She worked at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired as an occupational therapist for the past eight years, providing in-home service to blind babies and therapy service at the center as well.
“She spent so much of her life giving to others, always meeting everybody else’s needs. Just an extremely caring, lovely person,” said Heskett.
Nicola Heskett says there was a very somber feeling at work today with people in shock and many having a difficult time coming to terms with Terri’s death.
That sentiment was echoed at the LaManno home as well.
A family friend read a statement from LaManno’s daughter, Alissa, who wants people to know what an amazing mother she had.
“My mother was a beautiful soul; she was always thoughtful of everyone before herself. The world needs more people like her,” said Fowler on behalf of Alissa LaManno. “She was the best mother, wife, sister and friend that anyone could ask for.”
Fowler spoke on behalf of LaManno’s family, saying Terri’s husband, Jim, and their children spent most of the day on Monday reflecting on Terri’s life.
“Just trying to put the pieces together on what’s happened. As Jimmy said last night in a few moments my life has been destroyed,” he said.
Fowler says Jim and Terri LaManno would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this Tuesday. He says the LaManno’s appreciate all of the support and comfort they’ve received, and say without it their loss would be too much to endure.
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