Angelica Labellarte- McKinnon, 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. Born in the United States to Italian immigrants, she was the middle of three daughters and is survived by her elder sister, Anna Santoro. After graduating from Garden City High School in 1953, Angie married and began raising a family in Detroit.
She was the first in her family to earn a college degree, which she did in the evenings while raising young children and working full time. Angie went on to become a Senior Investigator with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She worked for the EEOC in Detroit, Raleigh, Honolulu, and Phoenix. She was passionate about her work pursuing discrimination cases and seeking relief for the victims.
She was the loving wife of the late Archie McKinnon, to whom she was married for 21 years.
Angie was an avid reader and an admirable cook. She may be best known and remembered for her colorful commentary and uncompromising, devil-may-care attitude.
She is survived by her four children, Francis Labellarte, Vito Labellarte, Jr., Annamarie Labellarte, and Michael Labellarte, M.D., and many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She is also survived by her loyal friends in Phoenix; Carol Bedner, Pat Miner, Berta Echeveste, and Taylor Carr.
Carol Ann Bedner
It was my pleasure in knowing Angie for many years. We enjoyed movies, books, cats and eating international foods. She had an artistic talent and I got to enjoy some of the meals she prepared when we first met.
Her loss will be felt by those that knew her.
May her family share her history and good memories.
Nina Labellarte
Angie was more than a mother in law to me. I called her mom for many years. I thanked her for bringing my wonderful husband into my life. In her humor she said no trade back. We see spent lots of time and had fun together. I’ll miss her with all my heart. I know she’s in heaven holding our family tight. Her holding Danielle brings me a little piece. I love my family very much. I will pray for all of us.
Natalie Labellarte
This beautiful angel is now in heaven. Thank you Angie for all the love you showed me and your family. Your strength, powerful presence, faith, love, tenacity are just a few things that inspired me growing up. May your soul be at the most peace…❤️ May the family and extended families find peace during this time. My heart is with you
All my love to la familia!
Whitney & Murphy
Oh my momma. It’s me, your baby girl Annamarie. If anyone thought I would not say something, clearly no one knows me and you. I am now without the other half of my heart. You told me a month ago that you already knew I was brave, but this would have to be the bravest I would ever have to be. I clearly am failing at the brave part, because although you taught me everything about life, you forgot the part about living without you, You gave me life, the girl you prayed for, may have been a bit much once you got me. Not one day has been dull for me and you and with you and but for you, I may not have gotten this far in life. This loss for me is profound above all profound of any loss I may have ever suffered. You and I took together took the best loves of our lives to their ways out of this life, and if any of it had to be done, I was always glad it was with you. I learned the word brave very early on, along with you. We learned how to fight for others together, you went one direction in your work and I am in mine. Never to leave anyone lost or suffering was never to be in even our youth. The front and back doors were always open for anyone who wanted to visit or needed help to navigate this world. My beautiful girl, you were the only one who could hear my voice, the name I called you and the tone I had, to know, yet one more crisis hit my little world or someone we love was sick. Being the only daughter to you was never a problem. You belonged to just me in that department. I could share you freely with my friends and all my boys, but at the end of the day you were just mine. You had a humor like no other, you could keep up with us four kids like nothing. You knew every single trick we tried to pull and only just ever asked us to be honest and to always tell you what was happening, good or bad. Words I choose to repeat to all who know me. I understood unconditional love from you. At one point you had to correct it, that besides your children, maybe not everyone is entitled to have that kind of love. You and I spoke every day whether you liked it or not. No state was too far for me to find my momma. My times with you and Dad Archie in every state you lived and all our times together, were some of the best days of my life. He took me in as his daughter when he never had to. I happen to know he loved you with all his heart, because we had many talks together while you were at work. A fine life I had with you. You were stern sometimes, but you had lots of us with strong wills. No meant no. Once said. No questions asked and how I live my life now. Your wisdom was shared and is still shared with many. I always hear myself say “well my mom would say….” Or I will ask myself what would mom say? Momma what will I do now? No matter where I go from here, you are with me. I loved you all my life and until I leave this earth, you are here. Catch me quick on my way up. I will still be mean to my brothers because I can, I will still be loud, loving, efficient and kind, or not kind, depending on the person. You know full well that no one could hold me little, and now no one can hold me grown up. I turned the hall light back on because I can’t sleep without you being here. You don’t suffer any more and I know all who had you all this time. There will never be thanks enough to be said for that. I know that was true love from all of them. The last time I was able to speak with you was the last time I knew I would speak with you. I have been silent since I almost lost you the night of my birthday. No one gets when I don’t speak, I am praying. There was no one else who could pray like me. Thank you for my life dear woman. Thank you for those 3 brothers. Rest well and peaceful. Kiss my head when I try to sleep. It has been my privilege to be your daughter. I love you momma. –Annamarie
Sally Garcia
I learned today of Angie’s passing. It saddens me that I did not keep in touch with her. Angie & I were co-workers. She was such a kind & giving individual. A great listener. She will be missed by her family & those who were close to her. Rest in peace Ms. Angie.
Lucy A Putlak
Sending many prayers for peace and consolation to the Labellarte family. My thoughts are with all of you. I will always remember Commara Angie with a smile. She was indeed the coolest and most progressive of all the relatives. What a beautiful tribute to her in the midst of all the sorrow. Anna- your heartfelt words have touched me deeply. Rest in Peace and a big hug from Chicago to each of you.
francis labellarte
me and my mom shared a love of music from a very early age on. in the early 1970s our whole family travelled to Windsor Ontario for a concert to see a popular Italian singer at that time my mom really liked. his name was Gianni morandi. we get there and find our seats. next thing you know me and mom are wandering around backstage trying to look like we belonged there. my mom was sporting her trademark look at the time big hair and sunglasses. security whisks her into the room where mr morandi is waiting. she comes out smiling and waving her autograph. we laughed. then she says they thought I was a magazine reporter. and we laughed some more. this is how I remember my mom. fun. full of life. cool. I want to thank taylor for helping me keep in touch with her these past few months. love frankie.