Palene \"Pal\" Cunningham was born March 1st, 1920, in Paris, Texas; she was the only child of Virgel Bowman and Albert Ellis also from Paris, Texas. At an early age, Heaven sent for both of her parents. Yet, he blessed her with the unmatched love of her uncle, WWI Veteran Thomas Alexander, who went on to raise her as his own.  

She moved to San Francisco, California, during WWII at the beginning of her adult life and quickly decided that California would be her home. Soon, her journey led her to Southern California. This is where she would go on to raise her six children in the city of South Los Angeles and a helping hand to other \"adopted\" children she loved as if they were her own.

Her education, accompanied by her giving and helpful spirit, led her to a career in nursing. For 22 years, she dropped words of hopefulness and wisdom, making her patients\' last days as enjoyable and peaceful as possible. Once she retired, she only continued to do the same for her family. Providing them with the necessary wisdom and values of life that would be needed to live life to the fullest. Palene was a strong, delightful, fun-loving, and feisty yet humble soul. Instead, she was dancing until she was exhausted or cracking jokes until she cried. She was always the life of the party, and despite the hardships she faced, she stayed in good spirits. There was never a day that passed where there wasn\'t a joyous smile on her face, and to know and love her was a blessing. Palene was the heart and soul of our family, and she will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

The Lord blessed us with her presence for 101 beautiful years, filled with laughter, music, and an abundance of love from a host of extended family and friends. In death, Palene will be met at the heavenly gates by her mother, Virgel, her father, Albert, and oldest daughter Loretta, and son-in-law, Carl, who will lead her into Heaven to be reunited with other loved ones that she\'s lost during her journey. In life, she will be cherished and missed profoundly by her sons, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family members she\'s adopted along the way.