RIP Maureen

Deepest sympathy to the Kanara family for the loss on Jan. 8 of Maureen Kanara, a wonderful mother and an amazing, brave, inspiring human being.
I learned what kind of a selfless person Maureen was when we were in the same gym class at the Kennett YMCA. One of her six children was facing a serious medical problem; coincidentally, my father was undergoing surgery. Over the next few months, before giving updates on her daughter's treatment, Maureen would first ask, with genuine interest and caring, about my father and how he was doing.
And later, when she was having health issues of her own, I'd often see her at Starbucks with her husband when they were up here in Pennsylvania from their Florida home. She may have been bald from the effects of chemo, or facing yet another cancer relapse, but she always seemed optimistic and cheerful, sharing news about how well her kids and grandkids were doing. Astonishing guts: I think most of us make more of a fuss over a cold.
She was a beautiful and deeply memorable person.
Family calling hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Longwood Funeral Home of Matthew Genereux, 913 East Baltimore Pike, and from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Willowdale Chapel. A life celebration will follow at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Willowdale Chapel.