My beloved Aunt Mary Anne died. She was an inspiration to me. She lived vigorously, then faced cancer, and died gracefully and bravely. I copied her obituary below not to be morbid, but because I think her life was so fascinating! I am proud of her, and will miss her.
Mary Anne Kennevick
Mary Anne Pasley Kennevick was an artist of being alive her whole life - from beginning to end. She was born at home in Caldwell, Idaho on July 23, 1925 to Raymond Carter Pasley, Sr. and Ruth Kerby Pasley. Family friend, Dr. Cole, walked three houses up Dearborn Street in order to deliver her early that summer morning. She died at her home in Boise in the early morning hours of June 29, 2007, still making plans for the next day. Henry David Thoreau said that "every blade in the field, every leaf in the forest lays down its life in its season as beautifully as it was taken up." Mary Anne managed to both enter and leave this world with great beauty and grace. She fully lived every moment in between. Mary Anne spent the summers of her life, beginning with her first birthday, on the Payette Lake at McCall, initially in a tent with wooden floors on the upper lake and later at the beloved family cabin near Sylvan Beach which was built by her parents in 1938. She had an exceptionally happy childhood with her brothers, Bob and R.C., Jr., and her sister, Jane. She remembered falling asleep every night to the sound of her mother laughing at her father's stories, feeling safe and loved. The Pasley family home was rich in love, laughter, and music, and was peopled with close extended family members - aunts and uncles and cousins - as well as with many friends - rich and enduring relationships she continued to nurture throughout her entire life. A highlight of her high school years was traveling across the country to a national debate tournament in Lexington, Kentucky with the Caldwell High School debate team, and visiting Washington, D.C., and New York City along the way. The tires on her father's car were worn down by the time the team returned - and since this was just prior to the United States entering World War II, her dad had to drive on bald tires until the war ended. Following her graduation from Caldwell High School in 1943, Mary Anne attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, for two years where, in addition to her studies, she took horseback riding and flying lessons and obtained her pilot's license. Her dream was to ferry bombers to England, but instead, she enrolled at Stanford University, graduating in 1947. While at Stanford, she formed lifelong friendships with her roommates, Jackie Lloyd, Biz Rogers, and Lou Smith. Following graduation, Mary Anne lived with her roommates in San Francisco for nearly four years, earning $ 175 a month working at Blythe and Company. This was an intensely happy time for her and she loved to talk about those early days of independence and adventure. During this time, she sailed across the Atlantic with three friends - Biz, Lou, and Virginia Palmer. They bought a roadster there in which they traveled all over Europe, having many happy adventures and seeing the world. Their driver, Sandy Reed, was an unofficial chaperone for these three young unmarried women and his presence a source of comfort to their parents back home. Nevertheless, Mary Anne was followed home by a romantic Italian gentleman who had fallen in love with her and who knelt in the family's living room and kissed her mother's hand, hoping to persuade her parents to let him marry her. Instead, she lived at home again for while, having spent all her money while abroad. She loved living at home again, staying in her beautiful bedroom upstairs, and being very well fed and taken care of by her mother and Mrs. Lilly. She thought she could have stayed happily there forever in that loving environment. Fate intervened. Mary Anne met Jack Kennevick in the spring of 1954 at an Elks Club dance in Caldwell, fell instantly in love, and married him on November 6th of that year. They shared a great love which lasted until Jack died in August 2005. Their daughter, Jane Elizabeth, was born in 1960 followed by their son, John Kerby, in 1962. Mary Anne and Jack worked together out of their office at home in their insurance business and enjoyed many years of golf, skiing, dining, tennis, and being with their many dear friends and family both in Boise and at the cabin in McCall. Mary Anne was a member of St. John's Cathedral, PEO Chapter AQ, AAUW, Saturday Fortnightly, and Hillcrest Country Club. During Jack's tenure in the Idaho State legislature, she socialized as a "Legislady," developing many friendships spanning the state. She played tennis twice a week for many, many years, right up until the day before her illness became known. Mary Anne loved her family, her friends, and the people in her life intensely and unconditionally. She was loyal and forgiving. A young friend who visited Mary Anne with her mother earlier this spring remarked upon leaving, "Mrs. Kennevick is a young person in an old person's body." Everyone who knew and loved Mary Anne would agree. Her vitality was exceptional and she always retained a youthful energy and enthusiasm. She was a magnificent human being. Mary Anne was preceded in death by her parents, R. C. Pasley and Ruth Kerby Pasley, her brothers, Robert E. Pasley and R.C. Pasley, Jr., and her sister, Jane Pasley Alexanderson. She is survived by her daughter, Jane Kennevick Innamorati, her son-in-law, Albert Innamorati, and her granddaughter, Katherine, all of Carlisle, Mass., and her son John Kennevick of Boise, as well as by her beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and many, many dear friends and caregivers who brought her food and love and company during the last year. The family thanks all of you who showed your love to her in countless ways and who received back the love she felt for you. Memorials may be made to Animals in Distress, the Idaho Humane Society, or the Bishop Kelly Scholarship Foundation in honor of Mary Anne's life. Vigil services will be 7 p.m. Thursday, July 5 at Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel. Mass will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 6 at St. John's Cathedral. 
