Angela Ann Alderete

November 15th, 1962 ~ October 31st, 2023

Angela entered eternal rest in the early hours of October 31st, 2023. She was 60

years old, and a resident in the Reflections Community of the Windsor in Cape

Coral Florida.

Angela was born to Samuel Joseph and Helen Marie (Erspamer) Alderete in Fort

Ord California – an army brat just like her siblings. She was the 5th of 6 children,

born with Down Syndrome only two years after its clinical diagnosis. She

weighed just over six pounds and grew to be 4’11”, earning her the nickname

Peanut.

Her parents made it their mission to learn all they could, becoming trail blazers in

the parenting and education of a child born with special needs. They

continuously advocated for her and encouraged us treat her “just like everyone

else”.

She approached life fearlessly, with unique humor and creativity. If she was

offered help, she often replied, “do my own way” and that became her mantra.

She succeeded because nobody told her she couldn’t.

Angela was a respected member of the Spindleworks artist’s community in

Brunswick Maine. Her creativity included woodwork, weaving, painting, and

pottery. Her work can be found local galleries and fairs. She also participated

in local Special Olympics games for many years with a wall of medals

highlighting her achievements.

She loved nothing more than a trip to the local thrift stores with her sisters and

had a keen eye for color and design. Her flair for clothes was unique, with a

style that was all her own.

Kenny Rogers was her favorite singer, and her lifelong role model and hero was

5th degree karate black belt and actor Chuck Norris. Chuck inspired her to

achieve her own black belt, earned after 12 years of hard work in the Shotokan

Dojo in Brunswick Maine.

Her teacher and mentor, Sensei Nelson Vaughn said of her, “there is a term in

the martial arts - shoshin. It means ‘beginners mind,’ and is the embodiment of

coming to class month-after-month, year-after-year with a cheerful and

expectant attitude. This was Angela every time she walked in the door. In the

dojo, Angela preferred to be called Eye of the Tiger - and so it was.

She had an amazing upbringing in the global and nomadic life of a military

family. She graduated from SHAPE American High School in Casteau Belgium in

1984, eventually settling in Brunswick Maine where her parents retired. She was

loved by all who knew her and brightened each of our days with her smile and

grace.

Angela is survived by her sister Susanne Caron (husband Alan) brother Gregory

(wife Katherine) sisters Mary Alderete and Nancy Alderete-Davis, her beloved

nephews Nicholas Epperson and Daniel Spicer, and nieces Hannah and Mariah

Alderete. She was predeceased by her brother David and her parents.

Our gratitude is extended to the staff at the Windsor of Cape Coral for embracing

Angela with love and care. Angela was an artist member of the Spindleworks

Community in Brunswick Maine. Donations in her name are a wonderful way to

honor her memory.

A celebration of Angela’s life will be held at the First Congregational Church,

312 Santa Barbara, Cape Coral Florida on November 18th, 2023, at11 a.m. You

are cordially invited to join the family for a luncheon immediately following the

service in the Anderson fellowship hall.

Angela will be interred with her parents in Arlington National Cemetery in

Washington D.C.

There are angels among us, and if you had the pleasure of knowing Angela, you

were truly touched by an angel. Sleep in peace sweet sister, you have earned

your wings.

"I've always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in

the way and you've got to have that drive and determination to overcome those

obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish."

Chuck Norris

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/fort-myers-cremati for the Alderete family.