Wanda Clara Suhanik passed away on October 24, 2020. She was born on August 12, 1919 to Stella (nee Gonsierowski) and Wachaw Piechocki in Gary, Indiana. Wanda graduated from New Carlisle High School in 1937. Following business college and while helping out at her parents’ tavern, she met Joseph R. Suhanik. Her mother informed Joe that once he had a stable job, he could propose to her daughter. Joe enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and they were later married on February 27, 1943. Joe’s military assignments took them to Dallas, Texas and New York. Wanda moved back to the Northern Indiana area while Joe finished his deployment to Iceland. After his honorable discharge, they first lived in Gary, Indiana, and then in Portage, Indiana, where they raised their two daughters, and where Wanda lived until relocating to Plano, Texas in 1999. Wanda’s career, spanning four decades, was primarily in the insurance industry where she worked for both independent agencies and insurance departments for various businesses. Wanda and Joe were married for 40 years, until his passing on January 1, 1984.
In her spare time, Wanda loved spending time with family and friends. She was a master Scrabble player, and even in her 90’s, she dominated games with family at birthday celebrations and holidays. She loved cooking and baking; particularly canning and making noodles, pierogi, rushky, and pizelle cookies, all of which she would gift to family members at every chance. Bingo was one of her favorite pastimes as well, and for years she volunteered as an event facilitator with her community groups for their weekly events. Wanda and Joe were devout Catholics and attended Nativity of Our Savior Parish in Portage, Indiana, and then following Wanda’s move to Texas in 1999, she attended Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Plano, Texas. She and Joe were very involved at Nativity. There was scarcely a Friday night fish fry or church festival that they missed. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Wanda managed the religious articles counter at the church. She loved collecting beaded coin purses and angel pins, and she recruited her family in her continuous search for both. Wanda’s other hobbies included crochet, gardening, and dancing. She loved music, especially polka, the Andrews Sisters, and Bobby Vinton. If you were nearby while a polka was playing, you could count on Wanda to grab your hands and make you dance with her.
Wanda was one of the best people you would ever want to meet. She had an infectious smile, an almost mischievous twinkle in her eye, and a cheerful attitude. She was always concerned about others’ well-being and was a wise peacekeeper and negotiator. Having lived through the depression era, she was skilled at repurposing almost anything. Many times, she recounted stories of living on the farm with neither indoor plumbing nor electricity, and of her father keeping their family afloat by learning the construction trade. Her kitchen was filled with treats for her three granddaughters, and on countless weekends she and Joe spoiled them with pancake breakfasts and homemade goodies. She was a cherished mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed.
Wanda is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; her parents, Stella and Wachaw Piechocki; brothers, Chester Piechocki and Floyd Piechocki; and sister, Helen Krampikowski. She is survived by her sister, Irene Karpus; daughters, Wanda Ann Massey and Shirley M. Stevens; granddaughters, Anne Wood (Robert S. Wilson), Karen Bell (Johnny Sr.), and Katherine Miller (Don Jr.); great-grandchildren, Marisa Wilson (Laurance), Johnny Jr. Bell (Shalie), Ashley Bell, Zachary Bell, Elizabeth Miller, and Michael Miller; and 5 great-great grandsons, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
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