Helen Mae Dasta

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Helen Dasta. Our mother was born November 11, 1940, in Hutchinson, Kansas, making her Miss Armistice. She was the daughter of Otto and Philomena Franz, the middle child in a large, loving family. Family, Catholic faith, and the love of music were at the center of her world as a child and throughout her life. Mom learned to play the piano at an early age, leading to a lifelong love of music. In addition to the piano, she sang and played the flute while studying music in college.

Mom was always boasting about how talented and smart her kids were, which we agree with naturally. We reminded her that we inherited those qualities from her...she was valedictorian at the graduation of her high school class!

She moved to Kansas City in the early 1960s, where she met and married Joseph Dasta III on September 1, 1962. Together they raised five children. Mom treasured being a mother and was devoted to caring for her family. There must have been times when she felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities, but she never showed it and was always there when we needed her. One of our many wonderful memories of Mom was learning to cook and bake from her. Mom was a terrific cook and especially loved baking—everyone loved her pies! Mom loved Saturday mornings at the City Market. For a number of years, Mom canned and made jams and jellies from the fresh vegetables and fruits she would pick up at the City Market and from her own backyard garden. It was very important to Mom that we ate healthy and hearty meals. She was also famous for her spaghetti sauce, bottling it and giving it out to others.

One of the blessings, looking back on Mom’s life, was her teaching us to share and do for others, whether that was shoveling snow for our neighbors or making little gift baskets filled with baked goodies and giving them to the residents at the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Later, after we got a little bit older, Mom went to work outside the home—first at Russell Stover’s, then later at the American Red Cross. She was particularly proud of her work at the Red Cross, where she served as an assistant to the executive director. Mom also went back to school and was so proud and happy when she received her associate’s degree. She had a beautiful voice and loved singing in the Fatima Choir, which was well known in the Catholic community at the time. She made many lasting friendships during her time singing with the choir.

Mom adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and cherished every moment she could spend with them.

Mom scrapbooked, documenting those precious little moments of our childhood. It is easy to tell from looking at those scrapbooks now how much she loved and cherished her children. She loved dogs—Max, who we all adored, and many others throughout her life. Mom was an avid reader and filled our bookshelves with books that we read over and over again. She loved to sew, making clothes for us.

Mom loved the holidays, especially Christmas, and always had a way of making the season special no matter how much money there was for presents. We were fortunate to spend one last birthday with Mom, number 85! She was surrounded by her family, and we all celebrated how much she meant to us. We miss her so much but are comforted in our grief by her love and her legacy, which lives on in each of us.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Dasta III; her parents, Otto and Philomena Franz; her brothers, William and Donald; her sister, Norma Nixon; and her grandsons, Cale Miller and Justin Perez. She is survived by her five children, John, Francis, Emily Miller, Maria Perez, and Dominic; her brothers, Edward and Ralph Franz; eleven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.

A visitation will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025 at the Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee, Kansas from 6:00 to 8:00pm, with a rosary prayed at 5:30pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 9:00am at Christ the King Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri, with burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery. After the burial, the family invites friends and family to join them back at the church for a reception in memory of Helen. 

The family would like to express our deep gratitude to everyone who cared for her in the last years of her life, especially Catholic Community Health and Hospice, the Healthcare Resort of Olathe and the many, many volunteers that came to visit her.

Memorials may be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, or loved ones are welcome to offer a Mass in Helen’s memory.