Ines Rapalo Bueso

Ines Rapalo Bueso, (known to her family and friends as Oma), age 91, was born in Hamburg, Germany, July 11, 1931 and passed from this earth in Smyrna, Georgia, March 10, 2023 at 1:25 a.m. from natural causes. Beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, godmother and great-grandmother, Ines charted her own path through life and was a mom-like figure to her many nieces, nephews, and close family friends.

She was raised in Honduras and educated at the Ursuline Academy of New Orleans and Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied microbiology.

Ines returned to Honduras and married Roberto Bueso Arias, an attorney, judge and diplomat, on March 19, 1952. She remained close to his family even after relocating with her children to the US in 1967. She raised three children and worked in the medical microbiology field, before retiring early to become a full-time grandma or “Oma.”

She was a skilled crafter who loved building doll houses, painting, sewing, embroidery, making the softest baby blankets and fixing any broken toy. She leaves behind many of her handmade creations, including Christmas ornaments and assembled displays of wild animals, fairies and gnomes. Oma loved to travel, touring the US, Canada, Europe, Central America and visiting family in Honduras and Germany. In later years she took trips with her grandkids, including to California and Disney World.

Oma had a quick mind. She enjoyed puzzles, wordplay and puns and leaves behind a long list of sayings (Oma-isms) that her loved ones will remember for years to come. A friend to animals, she cared for a variety of dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and crustaceans over the years and was always happy to give affection to any visiting pets. A music lover and expert whistler, she knew the lyrics to hundreds of old American and Latin American songs. In recent years she enjoyed singing along to them every night. An inveterate night owl, she was always available for late night visits from grandkids, or long phone chats with family and friends.

Practical to a fault, she stayed mentally sharp even as her body started to fail. She knew that her time remaining on this earth would be short, as anyone who spoke to her in recent years can attest. She was ready to undertake her next journey into eternity.

We who loved her are grateful for the many years we shared with her, and the countless memories we can draw upon, particularly when facing new problems in life. Her presence in our lives will be sorely missed, but her memory will live in our hearts forever. A private gathering was held by her family and a celebration of life will be hosted at a later date.