Adelaide Camarata, 75, of Overland Park, KS passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease on May 29, 2011.Addie was born October 4, 1935 in Hays, KS, to Paul Waldschmidt and Alvina Engel, the youngest of seven children. She was raised in Ellis, KS, and attended St. Mary's Catholic School and Ellis Grade School, and graduated salutatorian from Ellis High School in 1953 where she was a cheerleader for ‘the Railroaders.'

She pursued a career in nursing, completing a diploma program as a registered nurse at St. Anthony College of Nursing in Hays in 1956. After moving west for a job at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, CA, she met her future husband, Dr. Joseph L. Camarata of Uniontown, PA, and they married at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orange in 1959.

Together they had six children beginning in 1960, and she temporarily retired from nursing to raise her children. When her husband developed cancer, they decided to move the family back to western Kansas, where the pace of life was slower, and Joe could spend more of the limited time he had left with Adelaide and the children. She was widowed in 1975, with six children age 14 and under, and immediately went back to school to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Fort Hays State to support the family.

She continued working as a nurse at Larned State Hospital, then in Topeka at the VA Medical Center and Menninger's in adolescent psychiatry. Moving to Overland Park to be closer to her children after developing breast cancer in 2000, she remained there until her death. Her life was one of virtue, guided by her abiding Catholic faith. Addie loved her children and grandchildren dearly and prepared an autobiography of her life so they could know more about their ancestors and her life. She loved needlepoint, antiquing, music, and her faithful canine companion Archie.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Camarata, and her siblings Madeline, George, Henry, Lillian Miceli, and Fritz.

Survivors include her sister Lavida Sinek of Fullerton, CA, and brother Melvin Waldschmidt of Wichita, her children Paul (Karen) of Overland Park, Stephanie VanDyne (Robert Hazelwood) of Parkville, Joseph (Colleen) of Overland Park, Carla Hageman of Overland Park, David (Lisa) of Scottsdale, AZ, and daughter Mary Morris (Jeffrey) of Kansas City, MO, grandchildren, Andrea Camarata Ritchey (Clay), Gina Camarata, Joey Camarata, Gabrielle Van Dyne, Chris Camarata, Laura Camarata, Isaac Van Dyne, Elena Hageman, Jackson Camarata, Gibbs Morris, Christian Camarata, Evelyn Morris, and Gianni Camarata.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 2nd at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 14201 Nall, Leawood, KS 66223. Visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 at McGilley State Line Chapel, where the Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. A Prayer Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 03, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Local services in care of Brock's North Hill Chapel 2509 Vine hays, KS. 67601 Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging in Kansas City, and/or St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hays, KS. Condolences may be left on line at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com or email at [email protected]. A gathering of family and friends will be held Sunday evening at daughter Mary's house.