Can't close Loop

Hi

I’m using the following code in my sidebar:

<ul>
<?php query_posts('category_name=obituaries&showposts=5'); ?>
<?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
        <li><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">
          <?php the_title(); ?>
          </a>  </li>
        <?php endwhile; ?>

</ul>

in order to show a list from the specifed category.

However I’m also trying to display a breadcrumb trail on my index.php, using

<?php
  $curr_cat = single_cat_title('', false); echo $curr_cat;?>

But this will only display the category stated in the sidebar. If I change the cat in the sidebar, the breadcrumb changes.

it’s as if the loop in the sidebar isn’t closing, and I cannot work out how to stop this from happening. Any help on this gratefully received!