Celebrating the life of

Annette Funicello

22 Oct 1942 - 08 Apr 2013

Family and friends

Annette Funicello was an American actress and singer. She rose to fame as one of the most popular "Mouseketeers" on the original Mickey Mouse Club. Her most famous song is “Pineapple Princess.” Born 1942 in Utica, New York, she was discovered in 1955 by Walt Disney when she performed as a little girl as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake at the Starlight Bowl in California and cast her as one of the ori... more

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10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Birth of second son Jason

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Married to Jack Gilardi for 16 years from 1965 to 1981

Funicello began starring in a series of television commercials for Skippy peanut butter

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Married to Glen Holt for 27 years from 1986 to 2013

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Her son Jack Jr. is born

Performed in "Muscle Beach Party"

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon She was inducted as a Disney Legend

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon She opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundation

Starred in "Beach Party"

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

Annette also recorded "It's Really Love" in 1959

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

She and Avalon became iconic as "beach picture" stars and were re-united in 1987 for the Paramount film "Back to the Beach"

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

Starred in "Beach Blanket Bingo"

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

Funicello releases "Pineapple Princess"

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Her first daughter Gina is born

Funicello starred as "Mary Contrary" in "Babes in Toyland"

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

Funicello filmed "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini"

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Disney cast her as one of the original "Mouseketeers"

Funicello passed away at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, California, from complications due to multiple sclerosis

Karen Higdon10 Aug 2014

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Writes her autobiography, "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: My Story"

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon She was discovered by Walt Disney when she performed as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake at the Starlight Bowl in California

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon She received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for motion pictures on September 14, 1993

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Funicello announced that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis

10 Aug 2014

Karen Higdon Born 1942 in Utica, New York