Anthony Shawn Adam Wilander
October 23, 1993 – July 18, 2020
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Anthony on July 18, 2020. Anthony was loved dearly and will be mourned by his loving Mom Celina and Dad Jack; brothers Mike (Teri), Alex and nephew Luke. Maternal Grandma Margaret, Auntie Gina and Uncle Gene, cousins Danielle and Bryan and second cousin Aiden. Paternal Grandma Diane and Grandpa Jack, Auntie Kerry and Uncle George and cousin Jeramy. His friends Chrisy McIntrye, Brandon Portas and Skylar Dyck.
Anthony was a loving son, brother, cousin, grandson, nephew, uncle and a good friend! He was always putting other people needs first. He had a beautiful heart and soul. He will be forever remembered by family and friends who was devoted to his family and friends.
No parent should lose a child before its time. You cry whenever something reminds me of him. As parents you spend your whole life nurturing your son to your best ability assuming that he would live till old age. Our Family was very happy that we got to celebrate the milestone of your Life, your Birth, 18th Birthday and your 25th Birthday!! We had so many plans for you with the family but again you always did things your way. You always did march on your own beat. We are so happy that we got to celebrate your life with you. You have given us 26 years of cherished memories with us and the people that you have meet in your life. Your first impression of you is a everlasting ones. So many memories of life that you lived to the fullness. So many memories which meant so many tears of happiness that you brought to our lives. I am glad that we got to go living this journey of Anthony life. I am so proud to call you my Son! I wish I could be just like you, but you are one of a kind!
Anthony loved children. All children loved him. He was always helpful caring for his friend’s children. He was so patience with them. Anthony was considering going into the Child Care field but because of his Immune-Compromised due to his Transplants. He was so excited about becoming Uncle Tony to nephew Luke Arthur Wilander. He had a big smile when he was holding his nephew in his arms. He was always taking Selfies with his second cousin Aiden.
Anthony Wilander was born on October 23, 1993 in Winnipeg, Manitoba with a congenital heart defect. Life was never fair to you! You were a definition of a walking miracle! You were born with two holes in the heart, your heart was on the right, and turning blue. We had to fly out to the Stollery Children in Edmonton, Alberta to see the Heart Specialist. They performed an BT Shunt at 3 days old and no guarantee on how long you will live. Here you lived for almost 27 years longer because of a Heart Transplant that you received when you were 7 years old. You had a Kidney transplant at 17 years old which donated by your Dad. Your Dad wanted to you to have a live life to the fullness and being free to do what you wanted and when you wanted. We didn’t want you to be stuck on Home Dialysis for 12 hours which meant you couldn’t go out anywhere and stay out late with your friends. You were stuck at home all the time so that is why your Dad donated his Kidney, so you were free to enjoy life your way. You were a stubborn baby always wanted things or way. You had a NG tube in your nose for feeding taped to your face when you were a baby and took it out with the mittens that wrapped with tape on. But somehow you managed to get it out. It was a constant fighting to put the O2 tube in your nose because you kept taking it out. Every time that we see the Doctor for a visit when you were not feeling well, I was always scared that you would have to be hospitalized and never come back to us but you fought for 26 years. Your dad would always say to me when Anthony was younger that he will be okay because he is fighter and will come home. July 18, 2020 was the worst day of my life when you didn’t come back home to us!
Anthony Wilander passed on July 18, 2020 after 26 years of constantly fighting for his life. Anthony was an amazing person with a contagious laugh. Anthony gave the best of himself to everyone with his sense of humour and his love of life and all his family and friends. Anthony always loves taking Selfies. He would take Selfies of himself on our cell phone without telling us. We would look at them later and we see him making all these goofy faces and poses. Then I started to laugh. I heard he did that a lot. Anthony was the glue in our family. Anthony had planned a surprise IHop Birthday Breakfast with the family for me. I was so surprised and touched by his gesture. I was so touched by his kindness and thoughtful gesture! I will cherish those moment because he put it together. We all everlasting memories of the special times at Birthday Dinners and gatherings. He loved to eat. He would always eat his body weight in food! He would always go back for more. He would always say just make me a whole pot and you guys can share the other one.
Anthony was a totally devoted Wrestling Fan because he would attend every event by himself when in town. Every time you hear him swearing out loud on Sundays, you know he was watching Wrestling on TV. He even enjoyed the VIP package where he got to meet the Wrestlers. Anthony had a Make A Wish to meet his favourite wrestler John Cena but choose to take his Family to Disneyworld in Florida instead. He loved all kinds of music. Anthony would make a playlist of my favourite 80’s & 90’s music for us to listen to every time he had Doctor Appointments. We would sing and dance in the car. He would dance like no one was watching except for the security cameras. We would go to Timmys or McDonalds for lunch. He would always bring back for his dad to eat especially apple pies or Big Mac Meal. He was fascinated with Owls! He carried the charm in his wallet as he guides him along all of life’s paths. He would give people who needed money and didn’t keep anything for himself. He was generous to his brothers and cousin Danielle at Christmas time. He took good care of me when his Mom had a stroke. He would take our dog Maximus for long walks. He went to see Lady Gaga by himself the first time and the second time with his cousin Danielle. Danielle loved to see the joy on Anthony face smiling, and dancing singing her songs and being silly. He would do things alone and didn’t need to need people to do it with. I went to a concert with Anthony. I was so thrilled and happy to see Anthony singing the songs, smiling and being himself when we went to a Black-Eyed Peas Concert. Anthony favourite thing at Camping was dancing around the campfire with his fire poker and making silly faces while he was dancing. He enjoyed hanging out with his best friend Chrisy where they hang out at WEM and buying things from his favourite stores Hot Topic and Spencers. Hanging out in Drayton Family on the weekends with Brandon and his family. Anthony was like family to them.
Anthony was bullied in school and in life but that didn’t stop him being who he is. Hell he wouldn’t listen to me. He marched to his own beat and no one can stop him. He had a cast on in Kindergarten and O2 tube in his nose, he was hanging upside down on the monkey bar which was dangerous with one arm. He was stubborn and determine. He would mediate when there was conflict. He would stick up for his friends. He wanted everyone to be happy and getting along. He didn’t like seeing his friend unhappy. Everywhere he went he met people because who loved his sassy & quirky perky and easy going personality. He would go out of his way to make you laugh when you were sad. Anthony never had a set schedule on his everyday plan, he would fly the seat of his pants. I love it when he does things spontaneous.
Anthony wouldn’t want us to mourn his death but to continue to celebrate life itself to its full potential. Anthony was always full of wisdom and advice. I would ask myself, “WHAT WOULD ANTHONY DO?” He had not filter and told you the straight truth even though it hurts. He has touched everyone heart with his smile. Anthony would have wanted you all to stay strong and live life the way you wanted to like he did!
Anthony had a beautiful spirit and always looked to the good in others. He remained positive through life difficult time – staying positive, gracious and good-nature love and respected from Family and those people he met and worked with to the end. He was loved and liked by the McDonald customers because he greeted them with his Smile and got their orders right.
The family would like to extend sincere thanks to all the staff for their endless commitment to Anthony.
We would also like to extend their sincere thanks to all the individual in the health care system who looked after Anthony needs.
We will remember him in our hearts and see him in our dreams. He is forever with us.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Anthony Memorial Go Fund Me.
A Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2020 with a Memorial Service on Friday July 31, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Connelly–McKinley Edmonton South Funeral Home, 4820 Meridian Street NW, Edmonton. A Private Burial will follow the service. Due to Covid restrictions, there will not be a Reception after the funeral.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Anthony Shawn Adam Wilander 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta