Elma Beatriz Bigus, 92, passed away on Feb. 13, 2023.
Elma was born on April 3, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to Adele and Lobert Weaver. She lost her father at the age of 15 and moved with her mom and sister to St. Paul, Minnesota, but later was blessed with a wonderful stepfather in Michael Shapiro. Elma moved to San Francisco, California, to attend college at the University of California-Berkeley. Her life took a dramatic turn following a trip back to Chicago when she met Kenneth Bigus on a blind date. Kenneth, a young lawyer, had traveled to Chicago with his cousin and was smitten with Elma. He pursued her to San Francisco, and they later eloped on New Year’s Eve. Kenneth was the center of her life along with her two sons Lawrence and Edward.
Elma defied the odds as a four-time cancer survivor. Elma loved caring for her family, traveling the world and gardening. Kenneth and Elma belonged to a square dance club. They were season ticket holders to the Kansas City Royals, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Comets and minor league basketball and hockey teams. As a couple, Elma and Kenneth were regular patrons of the arts including the Kansas City Symphony, The Lyric Opera and Quality Hill Playhouse.
Elma was a member of the Menorah Medical Center Auxiliary, a local garden club and a women’s club composed of white and Black women that met to discuss racial issues. Her family was always amused when Elma would clean the house thoroughly before a cleaning lady arrived to perform the task. She was a voracious reader, a wonderful cook and enjoyed going out for dinner with friends.
When grandchildren arrived, Elma enjoyed spending time with them.
Elma was predeceased by her beloved husband Kenneth, with whom she shared 49 years of marriage; her parents and her sister, Janet. Surviving are her two sons and their wives, Lawrence and Ruth Bigus and Edward and Ellyn Bigus; and six grandchildren, Alex, Elizabeth, Aaron, Jacob (Amanda), Samuel and Julia Max; as well as two great-grandchildren, Izidore and Krynn. To honor Elma’s memory, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Jewish Family Services or the Overland Park Arboretum.
