-- Kitty Wells, known as the "Queen of Country Music," died at the age of 92, in Tennessee, after complications from a stroke. She had worked in a male-dominated field for about 30 years, but didn't achieve widespread fame until 1952, when she recorded the #1 hit "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels."
That 'answer song' led to a recording and touring career for the next 50 years, and established her as a strong voice for female singers. She scored other hits with such songs as, "Making Believe," "Mommy For a Day," "Amigo's Guitar," and my favourite: "Heartbreak, USA."
Her influence carried far and wide. According to Gil Kaufman in 'MTV News,' such country icons as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Shania Twain, as well as modern singers Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood found inspiration in a still male-dominated business.
Wells was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 1991, making her the third country performer, and first female, to earn that honour from the Recording Academy.
-- Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, died at 61. She first rode into space on the shuttle Challenger in 1983 when she was 32. President Barack Obama called her a national hero.
The Denver 'Post' wrote that Ride was more than just a physicist, educator and astronaut. She had carried the hopes and aspirations of a generation on the flight, a symbol of the ascent of American women in our nation’s working life.
In her lifetime, she twice visited space, took a leading role in NASA’s response to both space shuttle disasters and devoted herself to education, seeking to inspire more young women to pursue life in science.
But it was in education, particularly inspiring girls to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology, that Ride focused her efforts after leaving NASA to teach at the University of California-San Diego.
-- Corinne, wife, mother, parish worker and good friend, died after a series of bouts with cancer.
She had been a junior high student in my wife's classes, but I met her through parish work at Saint Ignatius, as Lectors, proclaimers of the Word.
You couldn't miss Corinne when she entered a room; a tall, vivacious woman, who 'looked you straight in the eye.' She worked as a skilled teacher of pre-schoolers.
She carried on a 'last-minute-arrival' social style: more than once, I remember looking for her and rising to go to the Lecturn to substitute for her, only to look up and see her, smiling, and advancing -- prepared to carry out her assignment!
Corinne ably led a number of parish committees, especially in Evangelization, and also served as Chair of Parish Council, the group that discusses the 'big picture' on a variety of topics of parish life and advises our Pastor.
Hundreds of parishioners and friends attended Mass of the Resurrection. Of course, Corinne had prepared a detailed list of favourite readings and hymns … and a particular 'dress code' for some younger family members attending the gathering. Her nieces were to wear dresses (no slacks) and high heels; and nephews: dress shirts (WITH ties), dress slacks (jacket optional, because it would probably be a very warm day)!
Vintage Corinne.
We miss you.
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