Wanda Lois Cornehl, 96, passed away Oct. 28, 2007 in Everett, Wash., with family members at her side.
On May 21, 1911, Wanda was born into a Scotch-Irish family which loved music, laughter and good food and believed that family was paramount.
Her parents, Sylvester and Pearl Fitzgerald Fanning were the children and grandchildren of pioneers who had been among the first settlers of the Oregon Territory. Wanda followed the traditions of her ancestors and filled her home with the sounds of music and humor, and the aromas of her wonderful cinnamon rolls, apple pies and bread.
Wanda and her husband, Bill, moved to Arlington, Wash., in 1939 where they raised their six children on a farm across from the airport. They were equal partners in establishing a farm that successively sold milk, turkeys and, finally, registered Hereford cattle.
Wanda always had her harmonica handy and played it until the last two weeks of her life. She also liked to dance and if she didnt have a partner had no problem dancing by herself.
She was an attentive mother who made every effort to keep her children clean and neatly dressed, well fed and safe. When they were small, Christmas Eve was made much more exciting as she rushed to finish sewing each child a new pair of pajamas in between making popcorn balls and cookies.
Wanda tried to keep her positive spirit as she lost her youngest son, Billy, in 1973 to the long-term effects of polio; lost her husband to cancer in 1980 and lost her daughter, Lettia Nelson to cancer in 1996.
During her last years she was a victim of Alzheimers, but never lost her sense of humor or her love of life.
Wanda is survived by her daughters, Margie, of San Jose, Calif.; Rita, of Pasadena, Calif.; and Georgie (Joan) Thompson, of Arlington, Wash.; and her son, Calvin, of Arlington. Two of her sisters also survive her, Almeda Henderson and Marie Frazer. She has 13 living grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
We will miss her and love her for the remainder of our lives.
A private graveside service was held Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007, at Arlington Municipal Cemetery.