Contains Spoilers: One of Arvilla’s closest friends, and a fellow widow, Margene Cunningham (Kathy Bates) is spirited, supportive, and currently single. Like their friend Carol Brimm (Joan Allen), she’s a Mormon—but, as Margene says, “the fun kind.” Before Joe’s death, Margene had been planning to take a long-awaited cruise in hopes of finding a man, but she drops everything to provide some much-needed moral support and join Arvilla on her journey west with Joe’s ashes.