Independence City Council member Karen DeLuccie dies just days after her re-election
Independence City Councilwoman Karen DeLuccie, who just last week was elected to another term, died on Tuesday.
DeLuccie, 64, died from lung cancer. A public funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20.
Since her early February diagnosis, DeLuccie had undergone radiation and chemo therapy. The prognosis was considered positive at first, but an April 7 scan showed her treatments had not been effective.
“I am so sorry that I am unable to continue to work with all of you in making Independence an even better place to live and raise a family,” DeLuccie wrote in a statement released by the city Tuesday evening.
Since first being elected in April 2014, DeLuccie had become a political force in Independence, where she practiced law with her husband, Joe O’Hara.
City Manager Zach Walker said DeLuccie was a staunch advocate for Independence citizens and maintaining a balanced budget.
“She never failed to ask a question and always looked for the answers her citizens demanded. We will miss her sharp wit and dedication,” Walker said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her husband, daughter and son in this difficult time.”
On the council, DeLuccie was known for her sharp tongue, a laser-like focus on the taxpayer dollar and tough questioning of city officials.
“She was a force of nature and would fight anybody for what she thought was right,” said first-term Councilman Dan Hobart.
While the two had been part of a governing majority of late, Hobart said he and DeLuccie had been at odds at times.
“We used to fight like an old married couple,” he said. “And then of course we’d go laugh about it as we would drink a beer at Three Trails,” a brewery near City Hall on the Independence Square.
While she was fiscally conservative, DeLuccie, an at-large member of the council, enjoyed support from voters across the political spectrum.
“She’s a rock star. She was never a politician,” Hobart said. “The city of Independence has lost more than it knows and so many of us have lost the dearest of friends.”
Her husband said DeLuccie loved the city and the people she served.
Karen had a passion and a deep love for the City of Independence and the citizens she represented,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “She wanted all to know her heartfelt sadness which she wanted me to express to all of you. Sadness in not being able to continue to represent her constituents in her capacity as a member of City Council.
Former city council member Lucy Young had known DeLuccie for more than 20 years.
“God rest her soul, we couldn’t have had a better councilwoman,” Young said. “I’ll tell you that.”
For years, DeLuccie was known as a swing vote in Independence, making it difficult to characterize her independent brand of politics.
“She was truly a moderate,” Young said. “If she were a Democrat, she’d be a blue dog. If she were a Republican, she’d be moderate or even a libertarian.”
A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, DeLuccie earned a reputation for standing up for the little guy and addressing everyday issues and problems. She was happy and willing to field calls from constituents and dive into the minutiae of zoning requests and utility bills on their behalf.
“She fought for the citizens of Independence and she did what she thought was right regardless of the ramifications,” Young said. “She always stood up for the people.”
Before her election to the council, DeLuccie served on the city planning commission for 16 years.
She would have begun her third term on the council next week.
Last Tuesday, DeLuccie placed first among four candidates vying for two open seats on the council. In that election, voters ousted incumbent Mike Huff and elected Jared Fears to the council, alongside DeLuccie.
If a council vacancy occurs more than 15 months prior to the next city election, the Independence City Charter calls for a special election.
Missouri Rep. Rory Rowland said DeLuccie was among those who pushed him to run for mayor. He easily won election last week and will be sworn in on Monday.
“There are few people who can match her integrity, her honesty and her work ethic on issues impacting our city, “Rowland said. “She will leave a void in our community that that will be hard to fill.”
The public is welcome to attend three memorial events for DeLuccie scheduled for next week.
Mourners will gather at 5 p.m. on Tuesday to pray the rosary at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 3736 S. Lee’s Summit Road in Independence. That will be followed by a visitation from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 20 at St. Mark’s in Independence.
This story was originally published April 12, 2022 at 7:31 PM.
