Angela, who recently passed away at age 67, was no rock star, no corporate titan, and no big-time politician. She wasn't famous at all.
Instead she was the foundation of her community in Hermosa Beach, California, a person who made important things happen, while receiving little attention.
But she touched so many hearts, that for her celebration of life service, the family notified attendees to arrive at the church early, because so many people would be arriving.
You likely have someone like Angela as the foundation of your community.
After graduating from high school in 1964, Angela attended community college and then moved north to take classes at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
There she reunited with her high school classmate Steve Peterson and in 1969, they married and would remain married for the next 45 years, until her passing.
After their wedding, they relocated back to the Los Angeles area where Angela graduated from college and became a school teacher.
But as they became parents to son Cory and daughter Rachael, she stopped teaching for nine years and devoted herself to being a homemaker.
Angela was not only a mother to her children but to other neighborhood children as well, sharing her love and support and helping to prepare all of these children for school.
Later when Cory and Rachael were in school, Angela resumed her teaching career in Hermosa Beach where she taught for many years, until her 2003 retirement, so she and Steve could travel.
But 2003 was important for another reason. It was the year she took action to save her own life.
Angela acknowledged she was an alcoholic and got help.
Once she was sober, Angela became a mentor to many people in their recovery during and after the morning meetings at the Hermosa Beach Alano Club.
Angela also joined the Hermosa Beach Rotary Club where she could apply her skills and energy and her big heart to help others in the community, and across the world.
In 2010 Angela welcomed her first grandchild Natalie, and in 2012 grandchild Vivian, as Angela now served in a role she deeply coveted, grandma.
Angela will continue to live in the hearts of her family, the hearts of her community and now she will live in your heart as well.
