Gwen Landano

Gwen Landano, 73, of Acworth passed away Thursday, July 16, 2009 at Odyssey Hospice in Decatur. Born May 26, 1936 in Gadsden, Alabama, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Dowdy Vaughn, Jr. and the late Leonard �Lena� Woods Vaughn. She was also preceded in death by her son, Leonard Vaughn; and her brothers, Aaron Vaughn, S.D. Vaughn, and L.D. Vaughn.



Gwen was a lifelong commercial realtor and broker. After leaving a position in securities sales, she joined the firm of Haas and Dodd in 1973 becoming the first woman in commercial real estate in Atlanta. Gwen enjoyed real estate sales so much she formed her own company, Landano Realty in Marietta. She was also a custom home builder.



Gwen joined the Women�s Council of Realtors and was active on the local, state, and national levels. She re-organized the Cobb Chapter in 1983 and was elected treasurer on the state level in 1985. Gwen was a Life Member of the Cobb Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club, held the GRI, LTG, CCIM, and CRB designations.



Most of all Gwen enjoyed spending time with her family. She especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gwen also enjoyed rock collecting, traveling, hunting, and fishing. She was also a member of Mt. Paran Church of God.



Survivors include her children, Johnny Kilgore of Acworth, Sandra Callahan of Rydal, Jerry Kilgore of Acworth, Debra Howey of Charleston, South Carolina, Diane Key of Charleston, South Carolina, and Pam Landano Presnell of Cartersville; fifteen grandchildren, Rondia Callahan, Shawn Kilgore, Jessica Kilgore, Brandon Kilgore, Melanie Hughes, Harley Klopp, Carson Presnell, Emily Presnell, Wendy Westwood, Jerome Kilgore, Billy Kilgore, Jordan Kilgore, Kevin Vaughn, Matthew Vaughn, and Heather Krako; thirteen great-grandchildren, Dillion Kilgore, Tristan Kilgore, Matao Westwood, Isabella Westwood, Aiden Hughes, Jade Samaniego, Cody Samaniego, Montana Samaniego, Haylie Nelson, Michael Nelson, Kaitlyn Williams, Hayley Williams, and Jason Williams; and several nieces and nephews.



A celebration of Gwen�s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 19, 2009 at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services. The family will greet friends following the service.



Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 430 Cassville Rd., Cartersville, GA 30120 is serving the family of Gwen Landano.





My Mother



My Mother, as she was often referred to,was an absolutely amazing woman. Truly a Mother like no other. Her life was a long, full life, and she carries with her many, many memories. Mostly good I am sure.



My Mother was a true LADY.



She was a lover and a fighter.

She was a survivor, and an accomplished business woman.

She was a soft shoulder to lean on but also tough as a nail.

She had to be because she was a single mother,

not only to the 6 children she brought into this world...

but also to my brother, her nephew whom she she sheltered and nurtured with love as she did for all of us.



Life was never easy for her but she always took care of me,

And when I needed her she was always there.

She was the one to see to it that I was okay.



Of course, there were times we did'nt see eye to eye,

but even then I knew she loved me.



She leaves me with a lifetime of good memories.

At times it was me and her against the world.

At times we were the best of friends, and for a time we were also colleuges.

But from the beginning to the end she was my Mother, and we had alot of laughs along the way.



I always knew I could confide in her.

I always knew she would help me find comfort.

She was my rock.



I always knew that as any good mother does,

she would not hesitate to use her tough love and give me the glare to set me straight if she thought I was out of line, but...

here in the end I am so thankful she did.



My mother taught me so very many lessons. Lessons in life, in love, and in business.



Though she was by no means perfect, she was almost always right, and even in her mistakes there, the last several years for her have been so physically and emotionally painful.



Though I hate to see her go, once again I am comforted to know that she no longer has to suffer.

I take comfort in knowing that she knew I loved her.

I am going to miss her so very much,

but I look for comfort in knowing that her spirit will live on.



She always said I would ony have one Mother

and she always said I would never know how much she loved me until I became a mother.

And again she was right. There is no love like the love of your Mother.



I'm everything I am because you loved me.

I want to take this opportunity to once again say

Thanks Mom, I Love You...