Angela

Aunt Angela passed away after coming down with pneumonia days after hip surgery. She had been fighting to stay independent and only recently turned over her driver's license - to the police who paid a visit to her house - just an example how fiercely independent a lady she was. The weather was perfectly gloomy and a challenge for travel. The snowstorm from Wyoming turned into freezing rain in Kansas City. Angela was a securities company executive before women's libs got the idea. We gave her a good send off with tears despite her professional demeanor. She never married but devoted love and attention to nephews and nieces and, as I now learned, was known as "Grandmaw" by some of the grand nieces.

Brother Don led the rosary at the viewing. It happened to be his 60th birthday.
I had a piece of birthday cake that night at Angela's house where Don and I stayed one last time. It didn't occur to me the birthday celebration would be held the next day after the funeral, but no one seemed to notice the missing corner.

As funerals go, it was another grand opportunity for renewed acquaintances. Cousin Janice seems to have taken over the organizational responsibilities and made sure we were properly nourished - including with genuine KC barbecue. Don might have some rehabilitation back home just how many giant onion rings fit into his diet.