Dr. Richard Cruz Ibarra

Live stream can be found at this link https://www.facebook.com/Skradski-Funeral-Home-
Dr. Richard Cruz Ibarra, age 94, of Kansas City, KS, passed away October 11, 2020. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Elia, parents Richard and Carmen, and brother, Raymond (Rita dec.). The family extends its heartfelt appreciation to the ICU medical staff at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, KS who treated and cared for Richard in the final days before his passing.
Visitation and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday October 31, 2020 at All Saints Catholic Church, Kansas City, KS, followed by burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum in Kansas City, KS. All services will be private. The mass will be available on a live stream at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to All Saints Catholic Church.
Richard is survived by sons Richard C. Ibarra Jr. (Leslie), John Ibarra (Mary), and Joseph F. Ibarra (Margaret); grandchildren Stephanie (Chase) Peterson, Anthony Ibarra, Michael Ibarra, Elena Ibarra, Joseph S. Ibarra, Gabriela Ibarra and Cruz Ibarra; siblings RoseMary Montemore (Genaro dec.), Anna Marie Gonzalez (Paul dec.), Jesse Ibarra (Margarita), Mary Garcia (Tony) and Carmen Wolfgeher (Ralph); and many nieces, nephews, and godchildren.
Richard served in the U.S. Army (1944 to 1946) as a medical technician, leading to his interest in pursuing a career in medicine. Attending medical school in Mexico, Richard met Elia while performing his rural medical social service in her hometown of El Porvenir. Richard and Elia were married in December 1959 in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and, shortly thereafter, moved to the Kansas City area.
Richard interned and completed his residency at St. Margaret Hospital in Kansas City, KS and continued his medical service there as an emergency room doctor for several years. At the time, he was considered to have been the first Hispanic performing this duty in the Kansas City area. He and Elia settled nearby in the area known as Polish Hill where Richard later started a family medical practice in the neighborhood and Elia supported him as an administrative assistant. Together they served the local multi-ethnic community with primary health care services until Richard retired in 1990. In his distinguished career, Richard served many patients from birth to death where he cared for the newborn, administered healing to the sick and comforted the grief-stricken during difficult times. He attended to their physical ailments and their spiritual health with gentleness and compassion.
Along with Elia, Richard was a lifelong member of St. Joseph/St. Benedict's parish, later All Saints parish. Serving as a sacristan and acolyte for many years, his involvement in church life was an inspiration to parishioners and the priests that served the parish. Richards devotion was his family and his special interests included tending to Elias garden, especially her beloved roses. He loved to play the guitar and sing songs of his youth - Boleros, Mariachi, and Ranchera. His custom of serenading ones birthday with Las Manaitas, a traditional Mexican/Latin birthday song, left the recipient with a smile and memory to cherish until their next birthday. He had an adoration for Our Lady of Guadalupe, a love for Saint John Paul II, and a dedication for Catholic tradition, especially the praying of the rosary. His kindness, humility, and abundance of giving endeared him to so many family, friends, patients, and strangers. He touched so many hearts with his wit, smile, and graciousness.
El Dr. Richard Cruz Ibarra, a la edad de 94 aos de Kansas City, KS, falleci el 11 de octubre del 2020. Fue precedido en la muerte por su amada esposa Elia, padres Richard y Carmen, y hermano Raymond (Rita). La familia extiende su ms sincero aprecio al personal mdico de cuidados intensivos del Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, KS que trat y cuid a Richard en los ltimos das antes de su muerte.
La Misa de Entierro Cristiano se celebrar el sbado 31 de octubre del 2020 en la Iglesia Catlica de All Saints (Todos Los Santos) en Kansas City, KS, seguido de su entierro en el Cementerio De Mount Calvary. Los servicios sern privados a peticin de la familia. La misa estar disponible en una transmisin en vivo a las 10:30am usando el enlace proporcionado.
Richard es sobrevivido por los hijos Richard C. Ibarra Jr. (Leslie), John Ibarra (Mary), and Joseph F. Ibarra (Margaret); y sus nietos Stephanie (Chase) Peterson, Anthony Ibarra, Michael Ibarra, Elena Ibarra, Joseph S. Ibarra, Gabriela Ibarra and Cruz Ibarra; hermanas RoseMary Montemore (Genaro difunto), Anna Marie Gonzalez (Paul difunto), Jesse Ibarra (Margarita), Mary Garcia (Tony) and Carmen Wolfgeher (Ralph); muchos sobrinos y sobrinas y varios ahijados y ahijadas.
Richard sirvi en el Ejrcito de los EE. UU. como tcnico mdico durante un periodo de 1944 hasta 1946 y fue cuando le dio el inters de seguir una carrera en medicina. Asistiendo la facultad de medicina en Mxico Richard conoci a Elia en su pueblo natal de El Porvenir mientras Richard realizaba su servicio social mdico. Richard y Elia se casaron en diciembre de 1959 in Nuevo Laredo Mxico y poco despus se mudaron al rea de la ciudad de Kansas City.
Richard hizo su pasanta en el hospital de St. Margaret en Kansas City, KS y una vez que completo su residencia medica continuo su servicio como mdico de la sala de emergencia en el mismo hospital por varios aos. En el momento Richard fue considerado como el primer hispano que realizaba esas labores en el rea de Kansas City. Richard y Elia se establecieron cerca en el rea conocido como "Polish Hill" donde Richard comenz una practica medica familiar en la comunidad y Elia lo asisti con el trabajo administrativo. Juntos sirvieron a la comunidad multitnica con los servicios de atencin primaria de salud hasta que Richard se jubilo en el ao 1990. Durante su distinguida carrera Richard atendi a muchos pacientes desde el nacimiento hasta la muerte, en donde cuidaba a recin nacidos, atenda a los enfermos y consolaba a los afectados por alguna pena en tiempos difciles. Richard atendi a las dolencias fsicas y la salud espiritual de sus pacientes con dulzura y compasin.
Richard y Elia fueron miembros por toda su vida de la parroquia de St. Joseph/St. Benedict (despus conocida como All Saints). Richard sirvi como sacristn y aclito durante muchos aos y su participacin en la vida de la iglesia fue una inspiracin para los feligreses y los sacerdotes que sirvieron a la parroquia. Su devocin era su familia y sus intereses especiales incluan cuidar el jardn de Elia, principalmente sus amadas rosas. A Richard le encantaba tocar la guitarra y cantar canciones de su juventud como Boleros, Mariachi y Rancheras. Su costumbre de cantar Las Maanitas, una cancin tradicional en la cultura hispana, para el cumpleaos lo dejaba a uno con una sonrisa y un recuerdo muy especial hasta el prximo cumpleaos. Richard tuvo una adoracin por la Virgen de Guadalupe, un cario por San Juan Pablo II y una dedicacin a la tradicin catlica, especialmente la oracin del rosario. Su bondad, humildad y abundante generosidad lo hizo ser querido por tantas familias, amistades, pacientes y extraos. Richard toco tantos corazones con su carisma, sonrisa y gracia.
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