Mrs. Wanda L. Dean passed away peacefully on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018 at her home in Verona. Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona will be on Sunday, November 25 from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be offered in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Verona on Monday at 10 a.m.
She is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Terence J. Dean Jr. She is also survived by her daughter, Barbara Olsson and her husband, Steve of Montville, N.J.; her daughter, Beth McLaughlin and her husband, Marty of Marlton, N.J.; and her daughter, Michele Kiernan and her husband, Tom of Verona. Wanda is also survived by her grandchildren Stephen Olsson (Janine), Mark Olsson (Renee), Brian McLaughlin, Karen McLaughlin, Katie Kiernan, Timothy Kiernan, Collin Kiernan, and Erin Kiernan; as well as her great-grandchildren Brooke Olsson, Stephen Olsson, Connor Olsson, and Savannah Olsson. Wanda is also survived by her sister Diane Weddle (Danny) of Longview, Texas.
Wanda is predeceased by her parents Edith and Jack Quest and her brother, Jerry Quest.
Wanda was born and raised in Athens, Ohio and she was very proud of her Ohio roots. Wanda graduated from Ohio University. She was an English teacher until she met the love of her life, Terry Dean, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Two months after meeting, they were married and moved to New Jersey, and they have lived in Verona for 66 years.
Wanda loved life! Above all, Wanda loved being with her family. Wanda also loved going to Bay Head in the summer, traveling with her husband and her life in Verona. Wanda could frequently be found on the sidelines cheering at her grandchildren’s sporting events.
Wanda was a member of the Glen Ridge Country Club. Wanda was actively involved in her community and was proud to have served as a past president of the Verona Service League and she enjoyed being a member of the Verona Women’s Club.
Wanda was a daily communicant at Our Lady of the Lake Parish until recently where she was a Eucharist Minister and a member of the Cornerstone Retreat Team.
Wanda also volunteered at Montclair Community Hospital and she served as president of the Women’s Auxiliary.
She will be lovingly remembered for her beautiful smile and friendly, caring ways.
Donations may be made in Wanda’s name to:
- Our Lady of the Lake Endowment Trust, 22 Lakeside Avenue ,Verona, NJ 07044
- Camp Nejeda (for children with juvenile type 1 diabetes), 910 Saddleback Road, Newton, NJ 07860
- Minette’s Angels Foundation, P. O. Box 94, Verona, NJ 07044
