Wanda Florence Russell

Wanda Florence Russell, born (Wanda Florence Flannery) August 13, 1943, in Chicago, Ill., lived a life marked by creativity, generosity and a wonderful sense of humor. She spent many happy summers in Wisconsin with her cousins before eventually making her home in Southern California in Arcadia and later Pasadena.

Wanda graduated from Pasadena’s John Muir High School in 1961. She went on to Pasadena City College, where she studied art and French—subjects that reflected her natural creativity and curiosity about the world. During her college years, she collected stories as memorable as her laugh, including once attending a party with a not-yet-famous Nick Nolte. Summers were often spent at the beach, always one of her favorite places.

She met her former husband in Pasadena, and they married in 1964, beginning a life together rooted in family and shared experiences. The young couple had two daughters, Denise (b. 1966) and Shannon (b. 1969). When the girls were grown, Wanda relocated to Lake Havasu City, Ariz. In 2020, she moved in with Denise and her family in Livingston, N.J. They all eventually moved back to Los Osos, Calif. in 2024.

Early in her career, Wanda worked as an accountant for VSI, where she also learned shorthand, demonstrating her sharp mind and versatility. She was also a realtor for several years. Outside of work, she found deep joy in decorating and rehabilitating houses, a passion she shared with her mother-in-law, Helen. She spent countless hours scraping wallpaper, stripping furniture and lovingly restoring old pieces, bringing beauty and new life to everything she touched.

Her artistic talents flourished over the years, especially through calligraphy. One of her favorite expressions of love was wrapping gifts—an art she occasionally practiced professionally, though her most beautiful creations were always reserved for those she cherished most.

Wanda was also an exceptional cook. She delighted family and friends with delicious salads, soups, holiday meals and pasta dishes. Breakfast was her favorite, and she especially loved making hash-browned potatoes, eggs and bacon—meals that became lasting memories for those who shared her table.

Above all, Wanda was good, kind, generous, resourceful and endlessly creative. She had an incredible ability to quote the perfect movie line, deliver a joke or invent a witty quip on the spot—no matter the situation or company. Even in her later years, during frequent doctor visits and hospital stays, she could always make the staff laugh. So many will remember her for this gift: she could always make you smile.

Wanda was preceded in death by her father, William Eurice Flannery (1965), her mother, Lela Babcock (1977), and her sister, Janice. She is survived by her sister Mickey; her daughters Denise and Shannon; son-in-laws John Ledesma and Tom Frank; and her beloved grandson, Zack Ledesma.

At this time, a celebration of life is pending for this summer.