Pamela “Pam” Grey Mills Casagrande

Pamela “Pam” Grey Mills Casagrande passed from this earth April 14, 2024, surrounded by family; she was 86 years young.

Pam was born March 12th, 1938, in Waukegan, Illinois to Bud and Helen Mills; she was raised in Denver, Colorado.

Upon graduation from high school, Pam attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and graduated with honors in 1960.

Pam went on to earn a Masters Degree in English Education from Indiana University and it was there that she met and married Peter Casagrande in 1962. They remained a devoted couple until her passing.

Pamela is survived by husband Peter, daughters Teresa Casagrande and Elizabeth Shields, and her two sons Chris and Vincent Casagrande.  Pam was preceded in death by her daughter Antonia Casagrande.  She is also survived by six grandchildren.

Settling in Lawrence in the late 1960s, Pam taught English as a second language, before becoming the director of religious education at St. John’s Church in Lawrence.  Pam was a founding board member of the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutritional Kitchen, spending a decade as treasurer, secretary, and writing grants.

Pam was also the chair of the Douglas County Aids Project for several years, twice winning the Wallace Galluzzi Volunteer Award for her dedicated work in the AIDS community.  It was also during this period that Pam earned her second Masters Degree, from Loyola University of New Orleans, in Pastoral Theology.

In her brief spare time, Pam was an accomplished cook, master gardener, and she was a rabid Jayhawk fan.  She was also the greatest Pama (grandma with a P), any child could want.

To sum our mother up in her own words, we offer this quote from her Galluzzi award acceptance speech.  “My daughter’s illness illuminates the fact that death will come to us all and not in the way we choose and probably not when we choose.  It underscores the fragility of life and forces me to live as a more compassionate and fully alive person.”  We love you

A Celebration of Life will be held from 11:00 ~ 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made in Pamela’s name to LINK and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.