Wanda Fay Hayward
January 15, 1923 ~ January 4, 2013
Wanda Fay Hayward, 89, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Friday, January 4, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Memorial Services: 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 6, 2012, at Community of Christ, 1500 Blairs Ferry Road, Hiawatha, Iowa, by Pastor Brenda Mitchell. Burial will be at a later date at West Grove Cemetery, Portland, Indiana. Arrangements are by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include her husband, William Herbert Hayward; three sons, William Harvey (Rosalee) Hayward of Lafayette, Indiana, Gerald (Janice) Hayward of Charleston, South Carolina, and Kenneth (Steve) Hayward of Marion, Iowa; a sister, Beverly Steffen of Fresno, California; ten grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren. Wanda was born January 15, 1923, on the family farm in Jay County, Indiana, the daughter of Harvey and Vera (Smith) Engle. She graduated from Kendallville High School in 1941, and then from the Ft. Wayne Lutheran Hospital nursing program in May of 1945. As a registered nurse she worked at the Healthwin Tuberculosis Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, was a county health nurse for St. Joseph County; served as Director of Nursing at Farris-Lombardy Nursing Home; and retired as a Medicaid fraud investigator for the State of Indiana. On April 7, 1946, she married William Herbert Hayward in Kendallville, Indiana. Wanda's faith was very important to her, spending 63 years playing music for her church and was a member of Community of Christ. She enjoyed quilting and will also be remembered as a high school state champion violin and cello player with her sister, Vivian. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother; two sisters; and two sons, Larry and Curtis. Memorials are suggested to Community of Christ.
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So sorry to hear of Wanda’s passing. She was one of my all time favorite people. I remember being at church camp years ago with a splinter and having her remove it for me. “Why, you’ve got a tree trunk there” she said with a chuckle. Put me at ease right away. She was that kind of person. Though I haven’t seen her for a few years, I was always kept informed of what she was doing and where she was living. Condolences to Herb and her entire family.
I was Sue Umsted back in the 50’s. Your family was very important to me and I have wondered over the years where and how you were. My heart aches for you in your loss of Wanda. May God Bless You.
It was my pleasure to meet with Wanda and Herb on several occasions when they lived here at Briarwood Apartments. My sympathy to Herb and their family.
I will miss this wonderful woman with such a free and gentle spirit. I loved her like she was part of my family. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Dear Family,
Although I am not with you at Aunt Wanda’s memorial service, I wanted to share a part of her that remains a part of me to this day. When I was in seventh or eighth grade, our family traveled to Indiana for a Hayward Reunion. I was tall, gawky, stoop-shouldered and very unsure of myself. I was sitting at a picnic table in the park, can’t remember where, and Aunt Wanda walked over and sat next to me. She asked how I was doing, and perhaps she could tell how very insecure I was. In a very “Wanda” monotone voice and with her eyes looking straight into mine, she said, “Do you know how beautiful you are?” My heart melted as she hugged me. Looking back, I realize that she probably didn’t think I was all that beautiful, but she knew it was something I needed to hear. Her encouragement to me all the times we were together, as few as they were, will be something that I will always remember and treasure. May this one simple story bring comfort to your hearts and a smile to your faces as you remember and honor Wanda. I love you, Aunt Wanda.
Wanda was indeed a marvel at all that she attempted. We were last together at the annual family gathering over a Memorial Day to tend to the grave sites at West Grove.
I will deeply miss my grandma Hayward. I feel extremely blessed to have called this treasure of a person, grandma. I have so many wonderful memories that I will always hold dear to my heart. I will never forget her sweet soft voice, her giddy laugh, big smile and how she always became a person my friends and extended family adored. Everyone who ever met her found an instant liking to her. I am so glad she was able to meet my children and I hope she is enjoying the reunion with my dad, her son Curt, in Heaven.
Herb, Wanda & the boys were our neighbors on Jackson Rd in South Bend. Couldn’t have had better neighbors. Wanda always made you feel special. Her oldest son, Bill, was the younger brother I never had. He & I re-connected at an astronomy conference a few years ago, after not seeing each other for almost 50 years. Wanda you were a great friend to my mother!
I WORKED FOR WANDA AND HER HUSBAND,HERB,AS A HOME HEALTH
AIDE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO HERB AND WANDA’S FAMILY.
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Aunt Wanda, you were always my absolute favorite aunt! I’ll always remember when you drove up to Great Lakes when I was stationed there. We had a great time driving in to Chicago that evening (at one point going the wrong way down a one-way street), eating at a neat Greek restaurant, even trying a shot of Ouzo while laughing like a couple of crazy ladies! I have never forgotten that night and will never, ever forget the special person I was privileged to call my aunt.
Wondered if Rosalee Crist Hayward could possibly be my roommate from Utah State University. Sorry to hear of the loss of you beautiful mother-in-law. She must have been an amazing woman.