Pamela "Pam" Guerra (Banes), 66, of Kansas City, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026, following a courageous 25-year battle with Hairy Cell Leukemia.

Pam was born on October 17, 1959, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Howard and Marilyn Banes. She was one of nine children and grew up surrounded by family, an experience that helped shape the strength, determination, and loyalty she carried throughout her life.

Pam approached her cancer diagnosis in 2001 with the same determination that defined so much of her life. She never allowed cancer to define her. Instead, she continued to work hard, raise her daughter, celebrate life, and be present for the people she loved.

Pam was a devoted mother who raised her daughter, Stephanie, while building a career and working hard to provide for her family. She first retired from Kansas City Life and was looking forward to retiring from CBIZ (Century Business Services) at the end of 2026. Even through the challenges of her illness, Pam continued to live her life with purpose and determination.

Family was always at the center of Pam's world. She never missed a milestone in Stephanie's life or in the lives of her grandchildren. Following the loss of her husband Eugene Guerra in 2019, Pam's leukemia returned from remission, beginning a long and difficult final chapter. True to who she was, Pam faced it head-on and continued to fight with remarkable courage.

Pam leaves behind her beloved daughter, Stephanie (Lopez-Banes) Welsh; her son-in-law, Anthony Welsh; and her three grandchildren, Marc, Alessandra, and Caitlin Welsh.

She is also survived by her two sisters, Connie (Banes) Pennell and Sharon (Banes) Harris and her two brothers Michael Howard Banes and James Joseph Banes.

Pam's legacy will live on in the family she loved so fiercely. She taught those around her that strength does not mean facing everything alone-that asking for help is also a form of strength. She showed her family that vulnerability can be an act of courage and that it is possible to be terrified and brave at the same time.

Her daughter will always remember Pam for her fierce spirit, her determination, and her refusal to allow cancer to define her life or her final years. Pam fought until the end, surrounded by the love and legacy she had spent her life creating.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by the family and friends who were fortunate enough to know and love her.