Angela M. McManus
- November 11, 2023
November 23, 1950
Marin County, CA
We lost our beloved Angela on November 11, 2023, twelve days shy of her 73rd birthday on Thanksgiving Day.
Angela was loved by her family and treasured by her numerous lifelong friends. She is survived by her loving sisters, Elizabeth Burnett, and Victoria Reno, and brother, Edward McManus. She was preceded in death by her sister, Julie Hazeltine.
Angela was born on Thanksgiving Day. The story goes that Angela’s mother complained of indigestion while preparing the feast that day–turns out it was Angela ready to join the party. They made it just in time.
Angela grew up in San Mateo, attended St. Bartholomew’s and Aragon High School. She attended Arizona State University, earning a teaching credential. As she began her search for a job, she learned of a dire need for teachers in Australia. Thus beginning her first of many international adventures.
Upon returning from Australia, Angela continued her teaching career in Marin County, instructing teens in practical home economics, foods, and nutrition. This led her to a career change in food service and restaurant management, working for La Petite Boulangerie, Watermark, and finally, Starbucks Coffee.
In retirement, Ange was not one to sit around. She continued to follow her interests in crafting, textiles, home design, coffee and maintaining a close involvement with family.
In 2012, her neighbor and good friend Heidi introduced Angela to SEGA (Secondary Education for Girls Advancement) School in Morogoro, Tanzania. Angela traveled several times to volunteer with this dynamic and vibrant learning community for girls. She made new friends and built strong relationships with both the teachers and the brilliant students of SEGA School. She loved getting phone calls from the girls at all hours, hearing about their new courses at university, and updates on their families. She created unique and beautiful crafts using the colorful fabrics she brought back. Angela fully immersed herself in the culture and found pure joy in her experiences in the diverse regions of Tanzania.
Though Angela never had children of her own, she was devoted to her nieces and nephews. She was very involved in their childhoods, occasionally traveling with them to far away places in Europe and Africa. She inspired in them a sense of wonder and curiosity, and encouraged adventures in their own lives. They all carry your spirit in them Ange, and are deeply grateful.
Angela never missed a birthday or celebration of any kind, typically providing a favorite dessert and unique and very thoughtful gift. She loved the spirit of Christmas, continuing a tradition started by her mom of crafting red velvet stockings with bells along the bottom for each new baby or lucky person joining our family. Every single year she thoughtfully filled them with useful and fun items she gathered all year long.
Angela’s passing was unexpected, but in their grief, the family is touched and deeply grateful for the support and kindness of her loving friends and neighbors far and wide.
A Celebration of Angela’s well-lived the spring.
For those who may wish to honor her life, please consider supporting the SEGA Girls’ School by donating to Nurturing Minds (nurturingmindsinafrica.org), or the Lacewing Foundation (lacewingfoundation.org). Angela served on the boards of both organizations.
will be held in