Divine Providence brought Angela Annunciata Buffler McIngvale (Mother) into the world on March 25,1925, the feast of the Annunciation, and took her to her heavenly reward on May 25, 2017, the feast of the Ascension. These feasts of Jesus’ conception and His ascent into heaven bookend her 92 years. Her quiet, resolute faith in God was the foundation of her life.
Mother was born to Julia and Frank Buffler, the youngest of nine siblings in Saint Florian, Alabama, where her father had a large cotton operation. Her childhood centered around family, church, and the many activities of helping her mother with the chores associated with maintaining a country household. She attended St. Michael’s Catholic Church and school, which was just a short walk through the fields. Her maternal grandfather, Florian Rasch, and fraternal grandfather, Joseph Buffler, donated the land and helped build the church which survives to this day. Letters found in the family home attest to a strong relationship between Angela and her siblings, including many heartfelt letters to her brother during World War II.
After high school, she attended St. Thomas School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned her R.N..
In 1947 Mother met the love of her life, George McIngvale, a WWII veteran. After a whirlwind courtship of just 3 months, they married on October 13,1948. They moved to Dallas, Texas in the early 1950s. Angela was a devoted wife and loving mother to her six children. Active in St. Pius X Catholic Church and School, she was a familiar face. These were happy, full days.
Never a stranger to hard work, she was up at 6:00 am daily to attend mass, maintained her own household, volunteered in her church and community, and always supported her husband’s growing business pursuits.
Mother was content to remain in the background, allowing the bigger personalities in her family to take center stage. But make no mistake, she was the glue that held the McIngvale family together. She insisted her children have a Catholic education. She led by example and instilled in her children a strong work ethic and enduring sense of family. She created and maintained a stable, loving home. Even as her children grew, went to college, and began families of their own, they could always find her at home with Pops. This source of stability and comfort, unnoticed at times, will be sorely missed now that she has passed. Anchored by home and family, she was content with the simple joys and pleasures of life. Her ability to be happy with what she had, never longing for worldly things, is a wisdom that transcends time. She was satisfied with God’s design for her life, both the joys and the sorrows.
In the late 1980s’ Daddy and Mother moved to Houston. Mother volunteered as a Hospice nurse ministering to clients. Many a family was deeply touched by her reverent care to their dying loved one. She also delivered Meals On Wheels through Northwest Alliance Ministry for 8 years. She loved to garden and the Houston climate afforded her plenty of beautification projects. One of her favorites was the Marian garden at Christ the Good Shepherd, keeping it in seasonal flowers. As her health failed she turned to quieter pursuits, reading or catching up with her 16 grandchildren. Memaw, as her grandchildren affectionately called her, was reserved and modest, but to those who knew her well, her opinions when offered were direct and profound. A woman of few words, her quick wit often caught people off guard but left them with a smile.
Mrs. McIngvale was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, George C. McIngvale, her eldest son George C. McIngvale, Jr., and her great granddaughter, Mathilde Juliette Stout. She is survived by Jim and Linda McIngvale, Angela Jones, Mary Dunson, and Ralph and Gayelene McIngvale, all of Houston, Texas, and Julia and Randy Stout of San Angelo, Texas. She also leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Finally, we the McIngvale family, would like to express our most sincere gratitude and thanks to our Mother’s wonderful, skilled doctors: Dr. John R. Stroehlein and Dr. James Willerson, and her kind and devoted caregivers: Rachel Nobs, Reina D. Martinez and Gloria Rodriguez.
A vigil and rosary service will be held Tuesday, May 30th at 7:00pm at the Forest ParkWoodlands Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 45 South, The Woodlands, TX 77384.
Phone (936)321-5115. The Mass of the Resurrection will be Wednesday, May 31st at 11 a.m., Christ the Good Shepherd, 18511 Klein Church Road, Spring, TX 77379.
Pallbearers for Mrs. McIngvale will be her granddaughters: Jennifer Matson, Dallas Kennedy, Angela Curley, Laura Brown, Elizabeth McIngvale, Anna Smart, and Kate Hand.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Assumption Catholic Church and School. 901 East Roselane Street, Houston, Texas 77037. http://www.houstonassumption.org/about/assumptionparish/
