Obituary of Angelina M. Kemp

Angelina M. Kemp August 9, 1920 - June 9, 2007 The heart of our family, our mother, Angelina, passed away peacefully while listening to Italian music, after a long life filled with love, laughter, family and church. Ange was born in Pola, Kingdom of Italy, to Assunto Bulgherini and Speranza Brunelli. Her early years were spent in several different Italian cities as the family followed Assunto's military career. They finally settled in their ancestral Tuscany in the town of Livorno, where her brother Giuliano Bulgherini still resides. At the end of W.W.II, Ange went to work at Camp Darby, the American Army base, where she met her future husband, Sgt. Elmer Kemp. He took her horseback riding and she fell in love with him as she put it, in spite of his red hair. They were married in Trieste, Italy in 1948. Elmer stayed in the army after the war and they enjoyed life stationed in Italy, France, Indiana, Virginia and Washington. When Elmer was transferred from Germany back to Livorno, she single-handedly sold the house in Tacoma, packed up all six children, (the oldest afraid of airplanes and the three youngest in diapers and bottles) and traveled unassisted to join him there. Upon Elmer's retirement in 1966, they settled again in Tacoma, where the nearness of water reminded Ange of her home in Italy. Angelina's energy and work ethic are legendary. She scrubbed her kitchen floor everyday at 5:00AM, then walked to the store for fresh bread and was home by six. She worked full time, raised six kids, kept a spotless house and yard and still had time for fun, family and friends. Ange retired from PSNB/Key Bank after working for more than thirty years, having never called in sick. She was an active member of the Sons (& Daughters) of Italy, Tacoma Lodge for over 40 years. Her boundless energy was also reflected in her dedication to her family. Ange loved giving her grandbabies their first baths, loved cooking for the crowd her family had become and loved to travel. Every other year of her life, she returned to Italy to visit with her family and many life-long friends. While proud of being Italian, Ange was equally proud of being an American citizen. Regardless of the pressure from her children, she would never buy anything but an American made car and steadfastly refused to reveal for whom she voted as she said it was "against the law". To the delight of her family, Ange was a born story teller. Her adventures as a child and young woman in Italy were the highlight of many family gatherings, along with her lasagna, bracioline, tiramisu and jello surprise. (The surprise was finding it still in the refrigerator after dinner was over). Ange's fun loving spirit and infectious laugh earned her friends whereever she went. Once she knew you, you were her friend for life. Her Christmas card list is a testament of how she lived her life. Ange started working on her cards in October every year to make sure she had a hand written, personal letter in every one of the over 350 cards she sent. We were blessed and proud to call her "Mom" and "Nonna". Ange was preceded in death by her son Carl and her husband of nearly fifty years, Elmer. She is survived by her brother Giuliano Bulgherini and his family; her children: Nancy Bulgherini Kemp and her daughter Bianca, John Kemp, Mark and Donna Kemp and their children Emma and Ian; Lucy Kemp and her daughters Mailani (Micah), Cassandra and Leilani; and Christine Kemp Buzard and her sons, Sean, Elliott and Avery. We know that Ange is in Heaven, catching up the news with Elmer and Carl and laughing and soaking up the sun with friends at the beach, and cooking up a little pasta-schiutta for everyone. Mille Grazie Mamma e Buon Appetito! Angelina's family would like to thank the Franciscan Hospice, Catholic Community Service and the Weatherly Inn for their comfort in her final days. Viewing will be 10:00AM-7:00PM on Friday, June 16, followed by a Vigil Service at 7:00PM at Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Home (253-472-3353). www.pipermorleymellingerfh.com . Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00AM, Saturday, June 16 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Private entombment, Calvary Cloisters. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association and Salesian Brothers.