Joanne Kangas - Obituary

oanne F. Kangas, 73, a 12-year resident of Edgewater, MD, previously of Cape Elizabeth, ME, died July 1st at Gilchrist Hospice in Columbia, MD. She was a 33-year survivor of breast cancer. She was born on August 11, 1938 in Brighton, MA and graduated 3rd in her class from Nashua High School in Nashua, NH where she was selected class salutatorian. Joanne received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the Jackson College for Women (now integrated as part of Tufts University) where she earned national recognition for her research on amino acids. In 1960, she married David M. Kangas and joined him on his Air Force assignments in Texas, California and Bangor, ME before moving to Cape Elizabeth where they lived for more than 30 years. Joanne enjoyed volunteering her time at the Portland Headlight Gift Shop and Junior League Thrift Shop in Portland, ME. She was also active at St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church in Cape Elizabeth and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Edgewater. Joanne was an avid bridge player and enjoyed snow skiing, tennis and sailing with her family in the Portland Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, David, who passed away in 2010. She is survived by her son, Mark Kangas of Morehead, NC; daughter, Leslie (John) Ceresi of Ellicott City, MD; brother, George (Lisa) Heney of Amherst, NH; four grandchildren, Lauren and Matthew Kangas of Raleigh, NC and Austin and Olivia Ceresi of Ellicott City; and her faithful bichon frise companion, Andy, who visited her at the hospital and hospice. Friends are invited to Joanne's Life Celebration from 4 to 7 pm on Thursday, July 5th at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 am on Friday, July 6th at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 515 Loch Haven Road, Edgewater followed by a luncheon reception. Interment at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by check to Gilchrist Hospice Care Center, 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 433, Columbia, MD 21045 or on-line at www.gilchristhospice.org.