Edna Frances Miera O'Loughlin

Edna Frances Miera O’Loughlin “Some people only walk this earth for a short time. Their departure reminds us that angels are watching over us. This past week, Edna Frances Miera O’Loughlin, age 87, rejoined her heavenly family and gained her wings. Edna passed away on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2020, from a vigorous fight with cancer. She was preceded in death by her former husband, John Byers O’Loughlin, her parents Carmen Baca Miera and Stephen Maurice Miera, her siblings Stephen Maurice Miera, Jr., Rosaline Miera Perea, and Patricia Miera Oetting. Edna was a compassionate spirit whose passion was caring for others, educating young adults, and supporting her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Edna was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and attended St. Mary’s High School. Following her high school graduation, she worked for the United States Air Force. She was exceptionally proud of her service as an executive assistant to a prominent General at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque where she met her husband, John. In 1957, she exchanged marriage vows with John Byers O’Loughlin and relocated to Hays, Kansas. Edna, and her former husband John, had six children: Joseph Miera O’Loughlin, James Michael O’Loughlin, Kathryn O’Loughlin Wilhelm , John Patrick O’Loughlin, Ellen Marie O’Loughlin, and Megan O’Loughlin Stidman. She spent many years raising her children and supporting her husband as he ran the family business, O’Loughlin Motor Sales Chevrolet/Oldsmobile auto dealerships in Hays and Ellis, KS. In 1968, Edna relocated to Wichita, Kansas when her former husband John accepted a position as an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at Wichita State University. Subsequently, she decided to pursue a career in Education which would allow her to spend summers with her children. She attended Wichita State University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She continued her educational journey at Wichita State by completing two Master's degrees, the first in Spanish Studies and the second, in English Literature. She set a great example to her children by pursuing her graduate degrees in the evenings while also teaching during the day. Edna worked 21 years as an English and Spanish teacher at Andover High School. Since her retirement in 1998, Edna had the opportunity to spend many hours with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She has left a lasting impression on all our lives through her love, humility, compassion and most of all, her example of living a life devoted to family and God. Edna is survived by her sisters Lucille Miera Miera, and Antonia Miera Light, six children, Joseph Miera (Kimberly) O’Loughlin of San Diego, CA, James Michael (Demetria) O’Loughlin of St. Peters, MO, and John Patrick O’Loughlin of Phoenix, AZ; her daughters Kathryn (Michael) O’Loughlin Wilhelm Hubbert Covington, LA, Ellen Marie O’Loughlin of Phoenix, AZ, and Megan (Eric) O’Loughlin Stidman; nineteen grandchildren, Nicholas Irwin of Aliso Viejo, CA, John Thomas O'Loughlin of San Marcos, CA, Joseph Edward O'Loughlin of Gunnison, CO, Thomas Xavier O'Loughlin, Layla Michelle O'Loughlin, and David Alexander O'Loughlin, all of San Diego, CA, Sean Patrick O'Loughlin of Aliso Viejo, CA, Nicole Vega O'Loughlin, Benjamin Vega O'Loughlin, and Brian Vega O'Loughlin, all of St. Peters, MO, Nicole Amber O'Loughlin and Hailey Marie O'Loughlin of Phoenix, AZ, Carolyn Marie Wilhelm of Cleveland, OH, Margaret Elizabeth Wilhelm (Tim) Hampton of Mobile, AL, Patrick Alexander (Heather) Swann of San Diego, CA, Lauren Elizabeth Swann of Charleston, SC, William Bailey Stidman and Grant Edward Stidman of Houston, TX; and three great-grandchildren, Avah Viola Adeline Hampton, Elah Lily Annabelle Hampton, Noah Oliver Aiden Hampton, all of Mobile, AL. Rosary will be at 9:30 am, Thursday, December 31st, 2020; the Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 am, both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Both services can be viewed live through St. Thomas Aquinas' YouTube page. A memorial service will be held at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico at a later date. Edna was buried at a Private Ceremony at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 4, 2021. A memorial has been established with: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1321 Stratford Ln., Wichita, KS 67206.