Mary Hunnel

OBITUARY and EULOGY Service for Mary Hunnel December 11, 2006 at 11:15 AM Houston National Cemetery 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive Houston, TX 77038 Phone: (281) 447-8686 Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Mary’s Honor to: The Alzheimer’s Association 2242 W Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77030-2008 or www.alztex.org Donations will accumulate toward a Permanent Memory Tree inscription MARY LOUISE LIGRANI HUNNEL (April 22, 1917 – November 29, 2006) ALVIN WILLIAM HUNNEL (November 27, 1915 – December 15, 2004) This is the eulogy of two people’s lives and a tribute to marriage, fidelity, and the essence of the spirit that bonds two souls as man and wife…love. Alvin and Mary Hunnel were inseparable in all things yet distinctly equal individuals holding hands and leaving their own footsteps. My darling, sweetheart, and other simple words of admiration and respect seemed to connect them as natural as the glance and beautiful smiles they shared. It’s all very human and so being very much a mystery in how our heavenly chemist bonds us. Yet it is real and Mary and Alvin are testament to that reality. Rooted in a farmers life and immigrant values clothed with the American dream two attractive handsome people catch spark and joy and wonderful times ensue. Alvin Hunnel came from of a family of nine (Frank the father, Lottie the mother,Velma, Fran, Jay, Hazel, Don, and Dora). As an older teen he tended to the household and younger family while work and church occupied the parents and older siblings. His deep seated sense of commitment to helping strengthened and at the same time he reaped a life long gift of honor and gratitude. Helping was his way always. Alvin’s alter ego was Santa Claus. At every Christmas since he became our small Nebraska town’s official representative he would fly into the hearts of believers in stores, neighborhoods, churches and hospitals and our house on Christmas Eve. He was a professional Montgomery Wards retail manager and an immaculately clothed gentleman admired for his demeanor. A man with vision and values whom I would rely on throughout his life. Mary Hunnel was Al’s partner in helping. Her farming Italian family, the LiGrani’s (Joseph her father, Angelina her mother, Clara, Roxy, Mike, and soul mate sister Jeri) made the work ethic another spring board for survival and success. She watched her gallant U.S. Navy husband, Alvin, proudly serve in the Pacific remembering those adventurous mountain hiking, fishing and exploring days they had shared with many. Upon Alvin’s return from military duty she became a mother to that first crop of baby boomers (me). She was the epitome of the retail sales woman, a career that had served her well having met and kissed Alvin in her youth in the shadows of a display at Montgomery Wards. So it was that we became a Wards family using the Signature appliances and all the brands. Ah yes, the thrill of the sale, the approach, the engendering of your personality, the clever timing, the sense of style, the competitive challenge… that was Mary all over and inside out. Whether on a high school basketball court, bowling alley or dressing up a counter later in life as volunteer super sales person in the Memorial Southwest Hospital gift shop Mary was going to be effective. If only she could have sold Alzheimer’s into going shopping elsewhere. The following towns where they lived all hold special importance to us: Grand Junction, Colorado Cheyenne, Wyoming Norfolk, Fairbury, Grand Island, Lincoln, Nebraska Brookfield, Missouri Muscatine, Iowa Houston and Willis, Texas Alvin and Mary are survived by Wlliam “Bud” Alvin Hunnel, caregiver, son, only child, husband to JoAnn Eister Hunnel, father to Angela (mother of Gage and Emma Harrelson, and husband Chris), Joel (soon to be wife Jenny, her children Cassidy and Camryn) and Andrea (with her close friends). I am a fulfilled caregiver having finished that last mile with Alvin and then Mary with help from our Moon Star Chandara Sok, Heidi Blunt, Roshonda Shedd, Jennifer and Heather Johnson, Samantha Sherill, Eva Smalls, Georgette Pelletier, Mable Gardner, Alice Singogo, Lovinia Bonner, Josie Cryer, Sandra Aaron, Rebecca Foster, Linda Green, Cecelia Perdomo (may she rest in peace) a host of others from Cameo Caregivers and Vitas Hospice. Countless hours of care, concern and compassion can only be rewarded adequately by heavenly intercession. Thanks to our extended family for their concern and kind words: The Bonellas (John, Wilma, Jim, Marlene and their families), Cash (Dr. Bob & Marilyn, Ron and family Duane, Tim, Rick, & Cheryl), and the Chapels (Aunt Dorie my anchor, Terry, Rick & Donna, Vicky, Cassie), our honored Aunt Eda LiGrani, Genevieve Leggett and her family, Nadara Beck and her family, Don LiGrani, Dick & Lynn Strachan and Steve, Carol Guerrie and family and all Hunnel and LiGrani line relatives that may read this. Thanks to friends the Bauers (Carl & Martha), the Krutchinskys (Chic & Alberta), Wells (Ron & Bev) and Teachmans (Sandi and Dave). And thanks to our personal friends and supporters, Grochans (Mike & Toni), Manz (Joe & JoAnn), Taylors (Richard & Linda), Curt and Anne Gibby, the Blunts (Jerry, Marilyn, Brian, Heidi, and Brent), Jody & Frank (Rebecca & Jessica) Files, Ken and Carol Williams and the Shadow Bay group, our neighbors here at Cypresswood Glen, St. James church (Fr. Samperi) . You have uplifted the hearts of Alvin, Mary and me and my family and given our lives meaning. So I close this eulogy with an invitation to read the story of Mary and Alvin between the lines and marvel at love to the power of two.