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Wanda: The Logan Avenue Grandma

I wanted to share some memories and stories about a great lady who lived on our street. Her name was Wanda and she lived on Logan Ave. just south of Eastern Ave. for over 50 years. She has been a Leslieviller for longer that there has been a Leslieville.

Everybody on the street loved Wanda. She was always out chatting with us all, helping out her friends, visiting the local stores on her bicycle and keeping the street neat and tidy.

Most of all, Wanda loved all the kids on our street, and they loved her. She was like the Grandma of Logan Ave. Every Christmas, Halloween, Easter, you name it, Wanda would be at the door with a little bag of goodies for all the kids on the street.

I lived only 2 doors down from Wanda. When my husband and I brought home our daughter last year, the first person on our doorstep was Wanda. She has been watching her grow up with us from the beginning. Every time Wanda would see my daughter, she would come and give her a big hug and kiss and say how much she is growing. I think Wanda was more excited than we were when she started walking!

My favorite thing she used to do with my daughter was "put the babies to bed". Wanda would call my daughter up to her veranda and give her a collection of her garden gnomes (babies) to put to bed (lay down on a lawn chair). My daughter loved this game and loved playing with Wanda every chance she got. She would kick her little legs and wriggle out of my arms to run over and play.

Wanda died this morning of a heart attack. Very quick and very sudden. It really hit all us neighbours hard. She was the most healthy 85 yr. old you could ever meet. A large group of us even saw her at a neighbours get together two days ago, laughing and having fun. For most of us, this will be our last memory of Wanda. I am glad it was one that I can share with other friends on my street.

We can't believe she is gone. We will all miss her very, very much. I hope this post in a way memorializes this friendly, caring lady to the people and community she called home for over half her life.

Good-bye Wanda, you won't be forgotten.

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Comment by Lisa Joss on October 21, 2009 at 1:16pm: View arrangements and sign her guest book here:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?n=wanda-biej...

She was a really awesome lady and I miss her terribly.

Comment by VeeP on October 21, 2009 at 11:51am: What a lovely tribute to read. I also have lived in Leslieville for a long time, since 1983, and yet there are still families on my street that were here when we arrived. My most missed neighbour was born in the house she later lived in all but for the first two years of her married life. The loss of local history is astounding; Eileen been gone close to 3 years and I still think of her everytime a 'newcomer' asks about the neighbourhood. The more the 'hood changes the more important it is to remember the past. Wanda sounds wonderful; if you have a long time Leslieviller in your area, strike up a conversation, you're in for a treat.

Comment by JM on October 20, 2009 at 4:26pm: Thanks for writing and posting this tribute to your friend. Your daughter may be too young to remember her, but you can tell her Wanda's story as she grows up. Maybe she can keep the garden gnomes...if the relatives agree.

Comment by Kalli Roger on October 20, 2009 at 3:55pm: Thank you Joan, that is exactly what my intention was.

Comment by joan wyatt on October 20, 2009 at 2:51pm: Kalli - I am sorry. Your family and Wanda were lucky to develop such a bond. It is good to hear she had little ones to dote on and people who cared for her nearby. We can all use people like Wanda in our lives. Your memorial is a good one, I think, since you have brought her story to more people :)

Comment by Nancy on October 20, 2009 at 6:29am: I understand how you feel. I moved into Leslieville 23 yrs ago so many of you would consider ME an oldtimer here and a fixture on my street, but there are 2 close neighbours who make me look like a newcomer. Some have been here more than 50 yrs. Even though they are elderly and outnumbered, they set the tone for the street and it's a tone I like. Friendly, trustworthy, honest, caring. I'm a small town girl and I felt good knowing my daughter and I could turn to a number of neighbours for help, company, advice, and even a cup of sugar.
I'm sorry you lost Wanda, but I hope you're inspired to be someone else's Wanda.