Obit:Annette Funicello dies at 70

[Kenny Atkinson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ngTd7SPFCw

 

[Robnoxious]

I will miss that sweater of hers.

 

[landtuna]

I kind of wondered how long she could last with MS as it appeared in the few stories I read that she was getting worse.

For my generation of males she was the ultimate heartthrob and always remained someone to look up to despite her 'B' picture history and Uncle Walt's efforts to keep her assets hidden.

 

[FredLeonard]

Annette

10/22/1942-04/08/2013

36C-22-36

 

[Bongwater]

I saw a video of her last year and I actually cried. This poor woman could not move or communicate in any way whatsoever. Her legs and arms were permanently frozen in place, in a sitting position. It was right then I decided if I ever ended up with something as debilitating as that, I would want the assisted suicide option (it's legal in WA state.) I could not imagine myself being like that, not being able to speak or move and if it ever progressed to where that was difficult for me, I would not want to live. I could not see myself as a burden to my family or in a godawful nursing home.

Bless her husband, who cared for her every day and kept her company all these years.......

Rest well Annette....You're finally free.......

 

[RadioMan203]

I never knew how bad M.S. could be until I saw an interview with Annette a handful of years ago. The disease robbed this woman of her life. I do have to agree with Bongwater about Annette's husband, as true love to stand by your mate despite any obstacle seems to be a trait slowly eroding away from our society.

I had only seen her Mickey Mouse Club appearances in re-runs but she definitely had that sparkle that made her a sweetheart. There aren't many stars today who have that sort of appeal.

She was one of a kind and will certainly be missed.

 

[Markxxx]

M.S. has a wide and I mean wide margin of effecting someone. Annette had the worst possible kind. I've known some M.S. sufferers who are bad and go into remission, others have only mild symptoms. It really varies quite a lot, depending on when it's diagnosed and what part of the brain it hits.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Shame on Entertainment Tonight for showing a recent photo of Annette Funicello in a wheelchair, overweight and white hair.

I'm sure her fans wanted to remember Annette the way she use to look.

 

[BDBopper]

My generation is the last one to grow up having an opportunity to see the reruns of the original Mickey Mouse Club on TV...back when The Disney Channel was a premium channel that. They used to show it at 5 AM (I think they also repeated at 4 in the afternoon). As many weekday mornings as I could I would wake at 5 AM (even on school days) to get my fix of Annette and the gang.

As I grew older I read her autobiography "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" and she became a hero and an inspiration to me. I printed a picture of her and taped it to my locker in High School.

She will be missed but I rejoice in the fact that she is no longer in pain and is no longer suffering the battle she bravely fought for decades with such an indomitable spirit.

It makes my heart smile to think that Uncle Walt was waiting to greet her just beyond the pearly gates.

 

[EZway2go]

I saw a video of her last year and I actually cried. This poor woman could not move or communicate in any way whatsoever. Her legs and arms were permanently frozen in place, in a sitting position. It was right then I decided if I ever ended up with something as debilitating as that, I would want the assisted suicide option (it's legal in WA state.) I could not imagine myself being like that, not being able to speak or move and if it ever progressed to where that was difficult for me, I would not want to live. I could not see myself as a burden to my family or in a godawful nursing home.

Bless her husband, who cared for her every day and kept her company all these years.......

Rest well Annette....You're finally free.......

Thanks for pointing that out. We wonder why some people have to suffer the way do, and, of course, that's a question for which there is no answer. Over my lifetime, I've tried to come up with a reason, and the best that I've been able to come up with is simply to know. Just know what can be. As the old saying goes, "There but for the grace of God go I." Knowing what could very easily happen to us should be all the incentive we need to fully appreciate the good things we do have. Many people don't. To Annette and her husband... you're an inspiration of the highest order.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I watched the TV movie a few years ago where she played herself telling the story of her life to a group of children. She was having a hard time talking and moving but she did a good job in the movie.

 

[FredLeonard]

Thanks for pointing that out. We wonder why some people have to suffer the way do, and, of course, that's a question for which there is no answer. Over my lifetime, I've tried to come up with a reason, and the best that I've been able to come up with is simply to know. Just know what can be. As the old saying goes, "There but for the grace of God go I." Knowing what could very easily happen to us should be all the incentive we need to fully appreciate the good things we do have. Many people don't. To Annette and her husband... you're an inspiration of the highest order.

One reason is we live in a "pain-oriented" society which forces the terminally ill to suffer by denying them the fundamental right and basic choice of euthanasia. Often they are also denied appropriate and necessary medication to manage their pain by callous physicians who claim a dying person might become addicted.

 

[BD Sullivan]

ME-TV is showing four of Annette's appearances on "Make Room for Daddy" beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

 

[johnnya2k6]

Shame on Entertainment Tonight for showing a recent photo of Annette Funicello in a wheelchair, overweight and white hair.

I'm sure her fans wanted to remember Annette the way she use to look.

MS had already robbed Annette in her last 20 years, and that last photo was a sad sight.

 

[landtuna]

One reason is we live in a "pain-oriented" society which forces the terminally ill to suffer by denying them the fundamental right and basic choice of euthanasia. Often they are also denied appropriate and necessary medication to manage their pain by callous physicians who claim a dying person might become addicted.

Both Oregon and Washington have legal euthanasia. She could have gone there. But Annette was a Catholic I believe so would have had some inner conflict with that "solution". Personally, I wouldn't want to waste away as she did but every person is entitled to their own choice.

 

[LKellerIII]

Thanks for pointing that out. We wonder why some people have to suffer the way do, and, of course, that's a question for which there is no answer. Over my lifetime, I've tried to come up with a reason, and the best that I've been able to come up with is simply to know. Just know what can be. As the old saying goes, "There but for the grace of God go I." Knowing what could very easily happen to us should be all the incentive we need to fully appreciate the good things we do have. Many people don't. To Annette and her husband... you're an inspiration of the highest order.

One reason is we live in a "pain-oriented" society which forces the terminally ill to suffer by denying them the fundamental right and basic choice of euthanasia. Often they are also denied appropriate and necessary medication to manage their pain by callous physicians who claim a dying person might become addicted.

No kidding. My mother-in-law (now deceased) was frail for years, could barely walk (had to use a walker and move very slowly), and suffered from chronic pain. She took a LOT of Vicadin, but it made her life tolerable. Her doctor retired, and her new doctor tried to take her off Vicadin, worried that she was "addicted." I got her a different doctor.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Since we are on the subject of Annette, I don’t remember reading anything about her funeral. Have you?
I was curious if her remains were buried in California or were they taken back to her hometown of Utica New York?