Louise Ammatelli

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Louise Ann Ammatelli, a beloved
daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.
Louise was born on October 22, 1935 on the south side of St. Louis, Missouri to Henry
and Emma Robert. She departed this life on July 18, 2025 at Kansas City Hospice
House. After receiving a terminal diagnosis, she fought a difficult and mercifully short
battle with ALS also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Valiantly, she kept communication
with her family and friends up until the day of her death, expressing and receiving love.
And after one week of diagnosis, she fearlessly chose to let go and become one with
God.

Louise became a registered nurse at St. John’s Mercy Hospital in St. Louis where she
met her beloved husband-to-be, Francis Ammatelli, a medical resident. They married in
1958 and had six children. Francis passed away in 1999. Louise later married Robert
Liepold in 2005 with whom she shared 16 joyful years of love and companionship
before Bob’s passing in 2020.

Louise was a woman of boundless curiosity, strength, and grace. She journeyed
through her life’s joys and sorrows as part of a larger spiritual quest. She cherished her
faith in an all-loving God, community of sacred prayer, and a host of family and friends
at Visitation Catholic parish.  Her values centered on equity and ecumenism, learning
from and caring for friends of different faith traditions. Louise, always inquisitive and
engaged, had a strong faith that carried her through her life journey up to her final days.
Louise credited her love of learning and progressive views to the high school education
she received from the sisters of Loretto at Loretto Academy in St. Louis. She later
became an oblate to her beloved Benedictine sisters in Atchison Kansas with whom she
studied and prayed for 30 years. She was a champion of education. After encouraging
and supporting her children to pursue higher education, she herself returned to the
classroom and earned a degree in English Literature at Avila College. Her exploring and
creative spirit found expression in the arts. In addition to a college degree, she studied
art history and trained for years as a docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art where
she specialized in guiding groups of schoolchildren through its galleries. Although she
would never admit it, she was a talented painter herself. She was an unstoppable
patron of the performing arts. She was passionate about theatre and found peace in the
symphony. She often reflected on what she had experienced and was eager to share
her insights.

Louise was preceded in death by her son Joseph Ammatelli (1988); husband, Francis
Ammatelli (1999); and second husband, Robert Liepold (2020).

She is survived by her cherished children, daughter Mary Ammatelli and husband Rob
Hatem of Kansas City MO; daughter Teresa McGonigle and husband Jerry of
Morgantown West Virginia; son Paul Ammatelli and wife Susan of Colorado Springs
CO; daughter Anne Ammatelli of Kansas City MO; son John Ammatelli and Kristan of
Kansas City MO; Stepson John Liepold of New York NY.

Her legacy also includes 11 loving grandchildren, Daniel and Samuel Hatem, William
McGonigle (wife, Maria), Emma McGonigle (husband Nick Johnson), Clara McGonigle,
Rose McGonigle (husband Petesa Mahe), Marco and Joseph Ammatelli, James
Kellerman (wife Kathy), and Dominic and Rose Ammatelli. Louise is also survived by
eight great grandchildren, her sister Joan Robert of Fort Collins CO and many nieces,
nephews and extended family. In all of us, her radiant smile remains indelible in our
minds and hearts as we carry forth her strong spirit of love and passion for life.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Louise’s life Friday October 17, 2025 at
Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main Street, Kansas City MO. There will be a visitation
at 1:00 PM and a service at 2:00 PM, reception in Louise’s honor at Tighe Hall of Visitation church, immediately following the funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a tax-deductible donation to Rockhill Manor
Residence and Academy for adults with chronic mental illness. Send via check written
out and mailed to: Rockhill Manor Academy. 4235 Locust. Kansas City, Mo. 64110