Nancy Sinatra Honors Annette Funicello 12 Years After Heartbreaking Death From MS

Nancy Sinatra honored her late friend, Annette Funicello, on what would have been her 83rd birthday more than 12 years after the former Mickey Mouse Club star’s death.

On October 22, the singer and eldest child of Frank Sinatra took to Instagram with a carousel of throwback photos featuring Funicello in a heartfelt tribute.

“Today is Annette Funicello’s birthday,” Sinatra, 85, captioned her update. “I first met Annie around the time she was filming Babes in Toyland with my then-husband, Tommy Sands. One day, I invited Mr. Disney to lunch at the Disney commissary to ask him for the part of Mary Quite Contrary. He told me he envisioned Annette in the role, but invited me to visit the set.”