Wanda Kelley Jonatschick

Obituary

It is with a heavy heart and many tears that I share Wanda gained her angel’s wings on Tuesday, October 28th, at 2:48 am after a lengthy 43-day stay at Bethesda Hospital. Passing due to covid and pneumonia. I was so grateful to spend every day with her, and especially for the last 5 days and nights I shared with her until her passing.

Wanda was an athlete with Special Olympics and competed in Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, as well as many other provincial games. Wanda had the privilege of meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bon Jovi, Kristy Alley, and Maria Shriver. Wanda won many gold medals for Manitoba and was featured in the Free Press for her gold medals as well as in The Carillon for her swimming. Wanda competed in gymnastic hoops, ribbons, ball, and Swimming.

Wanda loved to dance and was a real party girl, the first one up to dance and the last to sit down. Wanda enjoyed many holidays with her mom and friends. She went to Las Vegas three times and loved playing the slots, especially when she won! Great times were had with Wanda in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, as well as on a Caribbean cruise, Puerto Vallarta, and in Jamaica. Wanda spent time snorkeling to see all the beautiful fish and coral. She also enjoyed taking a tour bus trip to the Badlands and Deadwood, as well as visiting Mount Rushmore. Additionally, she made numerous trips to B.C. and took weekend trips to Kenora, Dauphin, and the United States.

Wanda was always willing to help in the kitchen, making perogies, pizza, and salads. She loved grocery shopping, pushing the cart, and unloading and putting groceries away. Wanda was great on the computer, always looking up hotels and airfares for her next holiday, and she even tried to apply for a credit card! Lol. Wanda loved her Camera and took many beautiful pictures, her favourite being the sky, clouds, sunsets, and the moon.

Wanda was predeceased by her infant brother Gentry Wayne, by her father Kenneth Wayne, and all her grandparents. She is survived by her mother, Muriel Mackenzie, and Stepfather, Douglas, and her dear sister, Amanda “Mandy”.

We want to thank the Doctors, Nurses, and Caregivers at Bethesda Hospital for the care, compassion, and kind words extended to Wanda and me. Special thanks to Envision for providing the care they gave to Wanda while in the hospital. I can not tell you all how grateful I am and blessed to have caregivers from Albert Street with Wanda at the hospital every day and night. This allowed me some peace of mind when I went home in the evenings. I am grateful to be with such a beautiful community as Steinbach and Envision. Extended thank you to Rob Hiebert of Crossings Funeral Care.

Wanda, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but you were ready to go. Fly high, my precious angel, mommy loves you forever! Thank you to Rob Hiebert of Crossings Funeral Care.

No formal services are being planned at this time.