Gloria "Abuela" Emelina (Yañez) Anglés

Gloria Emelina Yañez was born in Havana, Cuba on October 27, 1934 to Francisco and Maria Yañez y Olivier. With her two sisters, Esperanza and Elena, she grew up well-educated by the sisters at Villanueva, with a deep love of music and her Catholic faith. She had worked as a receptionist and bookkeeper at a local medical clinic. There, mutual friends introduced her to a young internist named Luis Enrique Anglés. They married on November 6, 1955, and started their life's journey together. Their lifelong labor of love was fueled by their deep faith in the One True God.

The painting, “A Rest on the Flight into Egypt” (by Luc-Olivier Merson), is a special favorite and meaningful painting. In post-revolution Cuba, at the school Mom had attended, one of the nuns counseled her to model her life on that of the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Family. The parallels between her life (escaping the godless Communist dictatorship of Cuba) and that of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt must have struck resonant chords in her heart.

The Anglés family (now with 4 young children) bravely plunged into their new country and new lives and brought with them the goodness and Christian fervor of the land they were forced to leave behind. God rewarded their faith with 14 children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, not to mention precious memories too numerous to count. She brought reminders of “Cuba Libre” (pre-revolutionary or Free Cuba) like espresso and malta, pastellitos de guayaba, arroz con frijoles, arroz con pollo, arroz con leche, arroz con mango and countless other Cuban foods unknown to this area. She helped bring others out of the cruel dictatorship ravaging her homeland and into a new home where they could find hope and dignity for their children, other family members, and fellow emigres.

She never ceased in her adoration for, and emulation of, the Blessed Virgin Mary. When she was no longer able to bear children, she asked God out loud for more babies, she loved them so. And she cried, sometimes, for unwanted children, and especially for those who had been intentionally aborted. She bore a special love for Mother (now Saint) Teresa of Calcutta. The Saint thanked her personally for a donation to her cause. That note was always a prized possession. Mom loved and lived this quote,

“Abortion is murder in the womb...A child is a gift of God. If you do not want him, give him to me.”

 St. Teresa of Calcutta

She raised her children as she had been raised: their education, both academic and spiritual, was paramount. In addition to nightly catechism and prayers, she stressed music and the arts. She never missed a music lesson or concert or an art show. She knew all our teachers and they knew her – she took great pride in making sure we were well-rounded. She arrived at a love of sports later in life, much to the amazement and amusement of her children (Rock Chalk...)

Her unbounded, even impatient, love for the young led her to teach her native Spanish at a local private school, after her own brood had left the nest. Years later, former students, now parents themselves, would still approach her with a rousing “Buenos días, Señora Anglés” and she gave warm hugs to all.

Even to her last hours, she inspired in others that simple love of God through her clarity of vision, her charity, her strength and her daily example. She made the hard work of raising a boisterous new generation of Cuban-Americans into a daily offering of praise to Our Creator. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, how could He not be flattered?

She and Pop offered all their children to God: Elena (& Steve Dailey), Louis (& Susan), Gloria, Natch (& Marybeth), Pancho (& Kristen), Maria, Mark, Paul (& Cynthia), Peter (& Cristina), Rosemary (& Thomas Mangold), Christopher (& Kelly), Lucía (& Douglas Larson), William, and Margaret.

She was thrilled at the chance to welcome every birth into the extended Anglés clan and prayed for them all, unceasingly. A recent photo of her grandson, Nick and his wife and their new baby, Maxwell, shows them next to Mom's bed; there she was, not the center of attention in the photo but certainly the scene-stealer, reaching her fingers out to play with God's newest creation. All innocence and love in a snapshot for the ages!

We cannot end our tribute without expressing our sincerest gratitude for the selfless work of those who helped us to care for her at home. Visits from Fr. Jonathan Heinricy and Fr. Richard McDonald brought her much joy, especially in receiving the sacraments when she could no longer attend church. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Justice Barton, Natasha Curtis, Brenda Cummings, Mallory Pino, Asma Jouhari, Jasmine Holloway, Rebecca Hurley and Priscilla Lopez and all the others from Phoenix Healthcare, who sacrificed themselves above and beyond the call of duty to fill Mom's days with great joy and happiness. Mom already said thanks every time she saw them, every time she kissed them, every time she insisted they dine with her (instead of feeding her), and every time they prayed with her. She may have liked watching re-runs of Monk with them, but, make no mistake, her joy derived from being in their presence while watching those shows. Nobody questions the fact she loved and adopted every single one of you. Welcome to the family!

Gloria Emelina Anglés left this world on April 30, 2022, to storm the gates of Heaven. God rest your soul for eternity, Mom. We love and miss you terribly... and eagerly await our next cafecito with you and Pop.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to St. Rose Philippine Catholic Church in Westwood, KS, and Holy Angels Catholic Church in Basehor, KS.