Regina Ann Lalla (Cline)

Regina Ann Lalla, 49, of Independence, MO, passed away on January 18, 2014 surrounded by her family and close friends. A Celebration of Life will begin at 10 am, Sat., Jan. 25 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055; interment at Mound Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-8 pm, Friday at the chapel. The family requests contributions to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancan.org. Regina was born on November 9, 1964 in Independence, MO to Gene & Connie Cline.
She married Rick Lalla in 1984 and after almost 30 years of marriage they have two children: Amanda Pickering, 27 & Marissa Lalla, 22. For the past seven years, she worked with Burns & McDonnell as a department assistant which she loved and considered her second family. She was a sports mom for her daughters for basketball, Jr. Olympic volleyball and softball games and track meets. She was active in the community as a member of the American Legion Post #21 Women’s Auxiliary, the Truman High School Booster Club and Project Grad, Independence Junior Service League, Independence Girls’ Softball Association, Santa-Cali-Gon Days, the Independence Youth Athletic Association, and Independence Trailblazers Basketball. She received most enjoyment out of life by being surrounded by the ones she loves the most and her grandsons Xavier & Jackson. She was always helping and taking care of others, and being active with her family. Many came to her for her strength & courage.
After a hard fight with pancreatic cancer, Regina was preceded in death by her mother and father Connie & Gene Cline and niece ReAnna White. Survivors include, but are not limited to, husband Rick Lalla, daughter Amanda Pickering & son-in-law Dustin Pickering, daughter Marissa Lalla, sister Janet White, brother-in-law Ricky White, niece Jessica White, sister Karen Tankesley and brother-in-law Cliff Tankesley, nephews David Tankesley, Dustin Tankesley, niece Candace Brenneke and grandchildren: Xavier Sturgis & Jackson Pickering.
Though she had only had two children, she was "Momma" to so many more.