Wendy Smithlin Selvaggi

Wendy was born on the 31st of January 1970, in Granite Falls, Minnesota, to parents, Nona and David Smithlin.

Wendy graduated from Forest Lake Senior High and Rasmussen Business College with a degree in accounting. She was a Credit Manager at Kent Electronics.

As a lover of life and adventure, she motorcycled, snowboarded, kayaked, canoed, bicycled, was a fly and live bait fisherwoman, a zip liner, a sailor, helicopter rider, white water rafter, kneeboarder, snow and water tuber, and adventure hiker.

She met her future husband, Ross Selvaggi, in 1993 and they were married on the 14th of November 1998, in the Cayman Islands.

Wendy and Ross settled down in Houston and were blessed with two wonderful sons, Rossi Lucian III and Ryan David. Wendy was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She was also a Sunday School teacher and a tireless Vacation Bible School volunteer. She served at St. Luke’s Day School on the Parent Advisory Council and led the Teacher Appreciation Lunches. She also volunteered with a smile at River Oaks Elementary and Lanier Middle School. Her passion showed in her role as Team Mom for Post Oak Little League where she was Ross and Ryan’s biggest fan. She was an active leader in Troop 55 of the Boy Scouts and the backbone of the Houston Croquet Association. She supported Ross in his role with the Friends of Looscan Library and graced her friends with scrapbooking retreats to Round Top, Texas. She was also a supporter of Citizens for Animal Protection.

Her proudest accomplishments and passions were her two sons. Besides the active volunteering, she participated with batting, pitching, and fielding practice, seven days a week. She actively worked with her sons on their school activities, Boy Scout activities and camp outs. Not only did she enjoy creating lifelong memories for her sons, she captured the moments in scrapbooks and photos of professional quality. Especially baseball!

Wendy is predeceased by her grandparents, Marvin and Adeline Just, and Jim and Marge Smithlin; and her father in law, Rossi Lucian Selvaggi, Sr. She is survived by her husband and two sons; parents, Nona and David Smithlin; her sister, Jenny Nistler and her husband Shawn; brothers-in-law, Richard Rossi Selvaggi, MD and his wife Tina, Thomas Carl Selvaggi, MD, and his wife Shantelle, and Stuart Joseph Selvaggi and his wife Elaine; mother-in-law, Lillian Griffey Selvaggi; sisters-in-law, Virginia Ann Selvaggi and Sue Marie Nixon and her husband Tony; nephews, Luke and Logan Nistler; and numerous other nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends.

Wendy set an example of courage for all through her health challenges. She will be remembered by all as a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister-in-law, and Godmother, a warm and caring, cheerful friend, and neighbor. She will especially be remembered for her million dollar smile!

A memorial service, celebrating her life, is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 30th of March, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Dr. Linda Christians, Executive Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to Citizens for Animal Protection, 17555 Katy Fwy., Houston, TX, 77094; Post Oak Little League, 5840 San Felipe St., Houston, TX, 77057; Methodist Hospital for educational purposes for nurse, Shirley Simmons of Fondren 12, 6565 Fannin St., Houston, TX, 77030; or to “Wendy’s Project,” a fund that accomplishes unfinished projects Wendy had for her boys, at PO Box 130035, Houston, TX, 77219.