Wanda Jean Monette Dec. 15, 1931 - Oct. 15, 2012
Wanda was born in Nebraska on December 15th, 1931 to Walter and Meta Heuerman. She grew up on a farm and graduated from Pender High School in Pender, Nebraska in 1949.
Following graduation, she worked at the Bell Telephone Company in Sioux City, Iowa, but returned to Pender after two years to care for her father and 8 year old sister following the sudden death of her mother. During this time, Wanda also worked at the Pender State Bank for four years.
In September of 1956, she married Floyd Monette, Jr. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to Burbank, CA to be near Floyd’s family. Wanda worked at the Security Bank in Magnolia Park for four years. In 1957, they purchased their home on Niagara Street where Wanda continued to live until her passing.
Wanda and Floyd were blessed with a son, Steven Lee, and a daughter, Lori Lynne. Family vacations were spent traveling back to Nebraska to visit grandparents or to a favorite family spot, Yosemite National Park.
When Lori was in junior high school, Wanda went to work as secretary at the Burbank First United Methodist Church, where she proudly worked for 30 years. She continued to volunteer at the church after she retired. The friends she made at BFUMC were one of the joys of her life.
In addition to the church she loved, Wanda enjoyed gardening, reading, and staying up to date on current events and sports. Her greatest fulfillment, however, was achieved as a wife, mother, and grandmother to the grandchildren she treasured.
Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Carol, and her life partner and best friend Floyd. She is survived by her son Steven and daughter-in-law Clara, daughter Lori and son-in-law Jonathan Strauss, grandchildren Matthew, Allison, Jack and Emily Strauss, Brandon and Ryan Monette, Nicole and David Ramirez, sisters-in-law Bonnie Allen and Marilyn Mudge, brother-in-law Harlan Russman, and a number of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends in California and Nebraska.
Wanda will be greatly missed by her family and friends and will remain forever in our hearts. How blessed we are to have had her with us for 80 wonderful years!
Memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 3:00 pm at Burbank First United Methodist Church, 700 N. Glenoaks Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91502.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Larry Stamper Scholarship Fund at Burbank First United Methodist Church.