Anna Gail Rechtien, 6, went to be with the Lord after a courageous battle with a brain tumor. Annie was born May 19, 2005. She was named in honor of her grandmother Leanna Rechtien and her great aunt, Gail Lung. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Robert W. and Leanna Rechtien and her grandfather John C. Brosnan. She leaves her parents and her sister, Mary Catharine, of the home and her grandmother, Mary C. Brosnan of Kansas City, Missouri. Annie also leaves her aunts and uncles, Dr. Mike (Happy St. Mike's Day) and Renee Yuhas of Joplin, Missouri, Reade Rechtien of Overland Park, Kansas and Patrick (Uncle Punky) and Amy (Aunt Mimi) Brosnan of Kansas City, Missouri. Cousins Chris, Nick and Taylor Yuhas and Kristen and Jace Brosnan.
Annie attended Antioch Church in Overland Park. She graduated from kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy and Pleasant Valley Baptist preschool. She was a level 3 gymnast at KC Gymnastics. She loved to laugh and swing, make funny faces and eat peanut butter bagels. She was her momma's "nap buddy", her daddy's "silly buddy" and Mary Catharine's best friend. She adored her Grandma B and loved her DD blanket. Her Kindergarten teacher, Miss Bainbridge / Mrs. Erickson and her nanny's, Miss Claire and Miss Abby Gerdts, were her heroes. Anna delighted in obeying and following the rules. She asked Jesus to come into her heart at age 4 and loved going to Sunday School. She had memorized and hidden many Bible verses in her heart. Her BFF's were Kate Holder and Adaline Verren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to St. Jude's Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis Tennessee, Make-A-Wish, or Kidz N Missions through Antioch Church. We would like to thank Mrs. Jacque Wilson for her faithful "Annie updates" and for the thousands of prayers from literally all around the world for sweet Annie and our family. In addition, we are grateful for the amazing care Annie received in this 10 month journey from St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital E clinic and Radiation Oncology staff, the Rehabilitation Institute, Children's Mercy Hospital and the Carousel Hospice program. Visitation will be 6 to 9 PM at Antioch Church Friday, July 15 at Antioch Church. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, July 16 at Antioch Church with visitation prior starting at 9:00 PM.
~~~~
Tribute | Annie Rechtien was wise beyond her 6 years
ALEESE KOPF, The Kansas City Star
Kansas City Star
August 18, 2011 ET
Who: Anna "Annie" Gail Rechtien, 6, of Kansas City.
How and when she died: Diagnosed with a brain tumor last October, Annie had surgery at Children's Mercy Hospital and went through seven weeks of radiation at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. She died July 13, not long after her kindergarten graduation and sixth birthday.
The student: Annie attended kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy. She loved school and was a hard worker, said her mother, Kathleen Rechtien, and her teacher, Kristen Erickson.
"Even in the mix of doing chemo, she kept up with all of her work and notes," Kristen said. "It's amazing when I think back on the days that I know she wasn't feeling good and she was always smiling and happy to be there."
Kristen said the class loved Annie. She said the
class would pray for her and ask about her often.
"The other little girls always wanted to sit by her," Kristen said. "They always watched out for her, and they would color with her during recess when she couldn't run around."
Kristen said one mom made the whole class matching hats after Annie came back from chemotherapy treatment. Another mom helped the class decorate a big "welcome back" banner for Annie that was displayed at her funeral.
The princess: Kathleen used to call her fair-skinned, blue-eyed little girl her "Irish baby." She said Annie's favorite color was pink and her favorite Disney character was Snow White.
When Annie saw the news about Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement, she asked if they needed a flower girl.
"She always wanted to be in a wedding," Kathleen said.
Even though she couldn't be in the royal wedding, she still got her wish. In March, she was the flower girl for her kindergarten teacher.
Kristen said she never thought she would have a flower girl, but after getting to know Annie, it was an easy pick.
"We knew it would be meaningful and significant to give her a really fun day during a hard year," Kristen said.
Dressed in a pink and white dress, wearing a brimmed white hat with pink and white feathers and a pink flower, and carrying a decorated white basket, Annie gently tossed rose petals down the aisle.
"She was a very careful flower girl," Kristen said. "She even paused to make sure she had thoroughly covered that part of the aisle before going on."
Annie also got a dream come true in June when she visited Disneyland through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Her favorites: Annie loved to read, write stories and play with American Girl dolls.
She enjoyed "Barney," "Dora the Explorer" and "Laverne & Shirley" on TV.
She loved to eat peanut butter bagels and drink chocolate milk.
Annie also loved to swing and was a level-three gymnast at KC Gymnastics.
She had a special blanket called DD that she carried everywhere with her.
Wise: At 5 years old, Annie was smarter than most 20-year-olds, her mother said.
"We used to laugh because when I gave her a choice between two different things, she would say, 'What would you do if you were Annie?' " Kathleen said.
Annie was a very obedient child who followed all the rules. Her mother rarely had to correct Annie because the child would learn from her older sister's mistakes.
Even through surgery, long visits to the hospital, radiation and other treatments, Annie never complained.
"She cried one time, and that was when she didn't think she could go to her friend's birthday party," Kathleen said.
Survivors include: Her parents, a sister, a grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Final thoughts: When Annie prayed, she would say, 'Dear Jesus, thank you for our food, thank you for Mommy and everybody else,' Kathleen said.
Annie attended Antioch Church in Overland Park. She graduated from kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy and Pleasant Valley Baptist preschool. She was a level 3 gymnast at KC Gymnastics. She loved to laugh and swing, make funny faces and eat peanut butter bagels. She was her momma's "nap buddy", her daddy's "silly buddy" and Mary Catharine's best friend. She adored her Grandma B and loved her DD blanket. Her Kindergarten teacher, Miss Bainbridge / Mrs. Erickson and her nanny's, Miss Claire and Miss Abby Gerdts, were her heroes. Anna delighted in obeying and following the rules. She asked Jesus to come into her heart at age 4 and loved going to Sunday School. She had memorized and hidden many Bible verses in her heart. Her BFF's were Kate Holder and Adaline Verren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to St. Jude's Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis Tennessee, Make-A-Wish, or Kidz N Missions through Antioch Church. We would like to thank Mrs. Jacque Wilson for her faithful "Annie updates" and for the thousands of prayers from literally all around the world for sweet Annie and our family. In addition, we are grateful for the amazing care Annie received in this 10 month journey from St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital E clinic and Radiation Oncology staff, the Rehabilitation Institute, Children's Mercy Hospital and the Carousel Hospice program. Visitation will be 6 to 9 PM at Antioch Church Friday, July 15 at Antioch Church. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, July 16 at Antioch Church with visitation prior starting at 9:00 PM.
~~~~
Tribute | Annie Rechtien was wise beyond her 6 years
ALEESE KOPF, The Kansas City Star
Kansas City Star
August 18, 2011 ET
Who: Anna "Annie" Gail Rechtien, 6, of Kansas City.
How and when she died: Diagnosed with a brain tumor last October, Annie had surgery at Children's Mercy Hospital and went through seven weeks of radiation at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. She died July 13, not long after her kindergarten graduation and sixth birthday.
The student: Annie attended kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy. She loved school and was a hard worker, said her mother, Kathleen Rechtien, and her teacher, Kristen Erickson.
"Even in the mix of doing chemo, she kept up with all of her work and notes," Kristen said. "It's amazing when I think back on the days that I know she wasn't feeling good and she was always smiling and happy to be there."
Kristen said the class loved Annie. She said the
class would pray for her and ask about her often.
"The other little girls always wanted to sit by her," Kristen said. "They always watched out for her, and they would color with her during recess when she couldn't run around."
Kristen said one mom made the whole class matching hats after Annie came back from chemotherapy treatment. Another mom helped the class decorate a big "welcome back" banner for Annie that was displayed at her funeral.
The princess: Kathleen used to call her fair-skinned, blue-eyed little girl her "Irish baby." She said Annie's favorite color was pink and her favorite Disney character was Snow White.
When Annie saw the news about Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement, she asked if they needed a flower girl.
"She always wanted to be in a wedding," Kathleen said.
Even though she couldn't be in the royal wedding, she still got her wish. In March, she was the flower girl for her kindergarten teacher.
Kristen said she never thought she would have a flower girl, but after getting to know Annie, it was an easy pick.
"We knew it would be meaningful and significant to give her a really fun day during a hard year," Kristen said.
Dressed in a pink and white dress, wearing a brimmed white hat with pink and white feathers and a pink flower, and carrying a decorated white basket, Annie gently tossed rose petals down the aisle.
"She was a very careful flower girl," Kristen said. "She even paused to make sure she had thoroughly covered that part of the aisle before going on."
Annie also got a dream come true in June when she visited Disneyland through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Her favorites: Annie loved to read, write stories and play with American Girl dolls.
She enjoyed "Barney," "Dora the Explorer" and "Laverne & Shirley" on TV.
She loved to eat peanut butter bagels and drink chocolate milk.
Annie also loved to swing and was a level-three gymnast at KC Gymnastics.
She had a special blanket called DD that she carried everywhere with her.
Wise: At 5 years old, Annie was smarter than most 20-year-olds, her mother said.
"We used to laugh because when I gave her a choice between two different things, she would say, 'What would you do if you were Annie?' " Kathleen said.
Annie was a very obedient child who followed all the rules. Her mother rarely had to correct Annie because the child would learn from her older sister's mistakes.
Even through surgery, long visits to the hospital, radiation and other treatments, Annie never complained.
"She cried one time, and that was when she didn't think she could go to her friend's birthday party," Kathleen said.
Survivors include: Her parents, a sister, a grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Final thoughts: When Annie prayed, she would say, 'Dear Jesus, thank you for our food, thank you for Mommy and everybody else,' Kathleen said.
Anna Gail Rechtien, 6, went to be with the Lord after a courageous battle with a brain tumor. Annie was born May 19, 2005. She was named in honor of her grandmother Leanna Rechtien and her great aunt, Gail Lung. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Robert W. and Leanna Rechtien and her grandfather John C. Brosnan. She leaves her parents and her sister, Mary Catharine, of the home and her grandmother, Mary C. Brosnan of Kansas City, Missouri. Annie also leaves her aunts and uncles, Dr. Mike (Happy St. Mike's Day) and Renee Yuhas of Joplin, Missouri, Reade Rechtien of Overland Park, Kansas and Patrick (Uncle Punky) and Amy (Aunt Mimi) Brosnan of Kansas City, Missouri. Cousins Chris, Nick and Taylor Yuhas and Kristen and Jace Brosnan.
Annie attended Antioch Church in Overland Park. She graduated from kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy and Pleasant Valley Baptist preschool. She was a level 3 gymnast at KC Gymnastics. She loved to laugh and swing, make funny faces and eat peanut butter bagels. She was her momma's "nap buddy", her daddy's "silly buddy" and Mary Catharine's best friend. She adored her Grandma B and loved her DD blanket. Her Kindergarten teacher, Miss Bainbridge / Mrs. Erickson and her nanny's, Miss Claire and Miss Abby Gerdts, were her heroes. Anna delighted in obeying and following the rules. She asked Jesus to come into her heart at age 4 and loved going to Sunday School. She had memorized and hidden many Bible verses in her heart. Her BFF's were Kate Holder and Adaline Verren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to St. Jude's Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis Tennessee, Make-A-Wish, or Kidz N Missions through Antioch Church. We would like to thank Mrs. Jacque Wilson for her faithful "Annie updates" and for the thousands of prayers from literally all around the world for sweet Annie and our family. In addition, we are grateful for the amazing care Annie received in this 10 month journey from St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital E clinic and Radiation Oncology staff, the Rehabilitation Institute, Children's Mercy Hospital and the Carousel Hospice program. Visitation will be 6 to 9 PM at Antioch Church Friday, July 15 at Antioch Church. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, July 16 at Antioch Church with visitation prior starting at 9:00 PM.
~~~~
Tribute | Annie Rechtien was wise beyond her 6 years
ALEESE KOPF, The Kansas City Star
Kansas City Star
August 18, 2011 ET
Who: Anna "Annie" Gail Rechtien, 6, of Kansas City.
How and when she died: Diagnosed with a brain tumor last October, Annie had surgery at Children's Mercy Hospital and went through seven weeks of radiation at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. She died July 13, not long after her kindergarten graduation and sixth birthday.
The student: Annie attended kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy. She loved school and was a hard worker, said her mother, Kathleen Rechtien, and her teacher, Kristen Erickson.
"Even in the mix of doing chemo, she kept up with all of her work and notes," Kristen said. "It's amazing when I think back on the days that I know she wasn't feeling good and she was always smiling and happy to be there."
Kristen said the class loved Annie. She said the
class would pray for her and ask about her often.
"The other little girls always wanted to sit by her," Kristen said. "They always watched out for her, and they would color with her during recess when she couldn't run around."
Kristen said one mom made the whole class matching hats after Annie came back from chemotherapy treatment. Another mom helped the class decorate a big "welcome back" banner for Annie that was displayed at her funeral.
The princess: Kathleen used to call her fair-skinned, blue-eyed little girl her "Irish baby." She said Annie's favorite color was pink and her favorite Disney character was Snow White.
When Annie saw the news about Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement, she asked if they needed a flower girl.
"She always wanted to be in a wedding," Kathleen said.
Even though she couldn't be in the royal wedding, she still got her wish. In March, she was the flower girl for her kindergarten teacher.
Kristen said she never thought she would have a flower girl, but after getting to know Annie, it was an easy pick.
"We knew it would be meaningful and significant to give her a really fun day during a hard year," Kristen said.
Dressed in a pink and white dress, wearing a brimmed white hat with pink and white feathers and a pink flower, and carrying a decorated white basket, Annie gently tossed rose petals down the aisle.
"She was a very careful flower girl," Kristen said. "She even paused to make sure she had thoroughly covered that part of the aisle before going on."
Annie also got a dream come true in June when she visited Disneyland through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Her favorites: Annie loved to read, write stories and play with American Girl dolls.
She enjoyed "Barney," "Dora the Explorer" and "Laverne & Shirley" on TV.
She loved to eat peanut butter bagels and drink chocolate milk.
Annie also loved to swing and was a level-three gymnast at KC Gymnastics.
She had a special blanket called DD that she carried everywhere with her.
Wise: At 5 years old, Annie was smarter than most 20-year-olds, her mother said.
"We used to laugh because when I gave her a choice between two different things, she would say, 'What would you do if you were Annie?' " Kathleen said.
Annie was a very obedient child who followed all the rules. Her mother rarely had to correct Annie because the child would learn from her older sister's mistakes.
Even through surgery, long visits to the hospital, radiation and other treatments, Annie never complained.
"She cried one time, and that was when she didn't think she could go to her friend's birthday party," Kathleen said.
Survivors include: Her parents, a sister, a grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Final thoughts: When Annie prayed, she would say, 'Dear Jesus, thank you for our food, thank you for Mommy and everybody else,' Kathleen said.
Annie attended Antioch Church in Overland Park. She graduated from kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy and Pleasant Valley Baptist preschool. She was a level 3 gymnast at KC Gymnastics. She loved to laugh and swing, make funny faces and eat peanut butter bagels. She was her momma's "nap buddy", her daddy's "silly buddy" and Mary Catharine's best friend. She adored her Grandma B and loved her DD blanket. Her Kindergarten teacher, Miss Bainbridge / Mrs. Erickson and her nanny's, Miss Claire and Miss Abby Gerdts, were her heroes. Anna delighted in obeying and following the rules. She asked Jesus to come into her heart at age 4 and loved going to Sunday School. She had memorized and hidden many Bible verses in her heart. Her BFF's were Kate Holder and Adaline Verren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to St. Jude's Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis Tennessee, Make-A-Wish, or Kidz N Missions through Antioch Church. We would like to thank Mrs. Jacque Wilson for her faithful "Annie updates" and for the thousands of prayers from literally all around the world for sweet Annie and our family. In addition, we are grateful for the amazing care Annie received in this 10 month journey from St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital E clinic and Radiation Oncology staff, the Rehabilitation Institute, Children's Mercy Hospital and the Carousel Hospice program. Visitation will be 6 to 9 PM at Antioch Church Friday, July 15 at Antioch Church. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, July 16 at Antioch Church with visitation prior starting at 9:00 PM.
~~~~
Tribute | Annie Rechtien was wise beyond her 6 years
ALEESE KOPF, The Kansas City Star
Kansas City Star
August 18, 2011 ET
Who: Anna "Annie" Gail Rechtien, 6, of Kansas City.
How and when she died: Diagnosed with a brain tumor last October, Annie had surgery at Children's Mercy Hospital and went through seven weeks of radiation at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. She died July 13, not long after her kindergarten graduation and sixth birthday.
The student: Annie attended kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy. She loved school and was a hard worker, said her mother, Kathleen Rechtien, and her teacher, Kristen Erickson.
"Even in the mix of doing chemo, she kept up with all of her work and notes," Kristen said. "It's amazing when I think back on the days that I know she wasn't feeling good and she was always smiling and happy to be there."
Kristen said the class loved Annie. She said the
class would pray for her and ask about her often.
"The other little girls always wanted to sit by her," Kristen said. "They always watched out for her, and they would color with her during recess when she couldn't run around."
Kristen said one mom made the whole class matching hats after Annie came back from chemotherapy treatment. Another mom helped the class decorate a big "welcome back" banner for Annie that was displayed at her funeral.
The princess: Kathleen used to call her fair-skinned, blue-eyed little girl her "Irish baby." She said Annie's favorite color was pink and her favorite Disney character was Snow White.
When Annie saw the news about Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement, she asked if they needed a flower girl.
"She always wanted to be in a wedding," Kathleen said.
Even though she couldn't be in the royal wedding, she still got her wish. In March, she was the flower girl for her kindergarten teacher.
Kristen said she never thought she would have a flower girl, but after getting to know Annie, it was an easy pick.
"We knew it would be meaningful and significant to give her a really fun day during a hard year," Kristen said.
Dressed in a pink and white dress, wearing a brimmed white hat with pink and white feathers and a pink flower, and carrying a decorated white basket, Annie gently tossed rose petals down the aisle.
"She was a very careful flower girl," Kristen said. "She even paused to make sure she had thoroughly covered that part of the aisle before going on."
Annie also got a dream come true in June when she visited Disneyland through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Her favorites: Annie loved to read, write stories and play with American Girl dolls.
She enjoyed "Barney," "Dora the Explorer" and "Laverne & Shirley" on TV.
She loved to eat peanut butter bagels and drink chocolate milk.
Annie also loved to swing and was a level-three gymnast at KC Gymnastics.
She had a special blanket called DD that she carried everywhere with her.
Wise: At 5 years old, Annie was smarter than most 20-year-olds, her mother said.
"We used to laugh because when I gave her a choice between two different things, she would say, 'What would you do if you were Annie?' " Kathleen said.
Annie was a very obedient child who followed all the rules. Her mother rarely had to correct Annie because the child would learn from her older sister's mistakes.
Even through surgery, long visits to the hospital, radiation and other treatments, Annie never complained.
"She cried one time, and that was when she didn't think she could go to her friend's birthday party," Kathleen said.
Survivors include: Her parents, a sister, a grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Final thoughts: When Annie prayed, she would say, 'Dear Jesus, thank you for our food, thank you for Mommy and everybody else,' Kathleen said.
