Ann, was 5 foot 2  inches – maybe. Before the steroids, she weighed 99lbs, after she weighed 102.  I don’t think that when I met her, that I understood that this “little” woman was going to be my step-mother.  But I can tell you now that I am so thankful for her.  Ann was able to bridge the gap between a 13 year old girl and her family.  She just made things easier. 
I think that kids always want their parents to get back together, but when my dad married Ann, I stopped wishing that.  As hard as my parents divorce was on me, if they hadn’t divorced I would have missed out on Ann.
I believe an appropriate term would be spunky.  And she was brave- you have 6 kids, see them to adulthood and then marry a man with a teenage girl. 
She had, had skin cancer in the past, and she was self conscious of the place one her calf where a “scoop” of flesh the size of a fist had been removed.  Every few months she would have to get little spots burned off of her body.  Before she was diagnosed she joked about odds of getting cancer of the leg.

Earlier this year, I lost a mentor and a friend to cancer.  Viera was an amazing woman.  After loosing her husband she went on to raise two fantastic children – who are a testament to her enduring dedication to them- run a successful business, create a sanctuary where many of her friends went to laugh, and sing and eat and find themselves in her friendship.  She was outspoken in her views, especially politics and family. 
Viera encouraged me to be myself and made sure I knew that my path is the correct one for me.  She was easy to talk to and opened her heart home and arms to all of her friends.
Nothing showed how much people valued Viera as much as the outpouring of “helpers,” e-mails, cards and phone calls that she received when she was ill.  I count myself as lucky to have been able to spend time with her in the hospital as her days were coming to an end.  She joked with the doctors and nurses.  She was optimistic in her treatment when there was very little to be optimistic about.  And when she finally left us, it was at home with her children holding her hands.   She was a magnificent woman and I hope she knew that, that was and is my opinion of her.