Obituary
GRAHAM, Wanda Ann (nee Reaser)
January 22, 1961 – September 23, 2021
It is with a sense of immense loss that the family of Wanda Graham announces her passing in the early morning hours of September 23, 2021. Her husband Dean and daughter Desirae were by her side. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Alphonse and Frieda Reaser and George and Lena Karcha, parents-in-law, Tom and Loraine Graham, and an infant daughter, Ann. She is survived by her husband Dean, daughter Desirae, son Bryn, parents Al and Kathy Reaser, and brothers Robin, David, Joe, and James and their families, and all her friends that loved her so dearly. Wanda was born on January 22, 1961 in Saskatoon, SK. She was the first child and only daughter of Al and Kathy Reaser. Wanda attended St Gerard and St Thomas Elementary Schools. As the only girl with 4 brothers, Wanda was often tasked with babysitting which was more like refereeing two sets of fights. Wanda entered high school in Grade 8 at Holy Cross. It was there where Wanda started her lifelong passion for volunteering. Wanda was a cheerleader and on Pep Club and found many opportunities to offer her services and opinions. After graduating from Holy Cross in 1978, she attended Robertson Secretarial School. Wanda graduated from Robertson with honours in 1979 and went to work at the Ed-Psyche Department at the University of Saskatchewan. While working there she met what was to be the love of her life, Dean Graham. As she used to say with a wink, “He chased me until I caught him”. Shortly after they started dating, Wanda left the university to work for her parents at Actionwear Saskatoon Ltd. as a bookkeeper. Dean and Wanda were married on September 4, 1982, at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon. In August 1984, they were blessed with a daughter, Desirae. Two years after that they lost a baby daughter, Ann, eight and a half months into pregnancy. Undaunted, Wanda wanted another child and was blessed with a son, Bryn in January 1990. Although kindhearted as a mother, she was no pushover. However, when Dean got a little too harsh with his discipline, her ‘Mama bear’ instinct was quick to reel him in. One of Wanda’s ultimate goals as a mother was to help her children find their passions and nurture them. For Desirae, it was figure skating and dance, eventually leading to her opening her own dance studio. Bryn tried many activities including dance, karate and wrestling, however drawing was always his passion which led to a career in animation. Wanda’s tremendous love and support helped her children achieve their dreams. As her family grew, so did her Faith in God. And as it is written ‘Faith without works…’, she turned more of her attention into service to her God and her Church. Over the years she served in various capacities with the CWL at city and provincial levels, helped to organize countless parish fall suppers, served on pastoral council and parish finance committee, was a liturgical director, reader and communion minister, and worked at numerous weddings and funerals. Her real passion was organizing the Christmas hampers for the less fortunate. In December 2020, during the Covid outbreak, she figured out how to do just that by using gift cards. She received all the information from the schools for the families, made out spread sheets and ordered the gift cards accordingly. The gift cards started arriving just before she went into hospital for breast cancer surgery. When she got home from the hospital after surgery, she went directly to the kitchen table. When asked if she shouldn’t go lay down for a while, her kind, but stern reply was, “I have things to do. So, either help me or get out of my way.” That was Wanda. Wanda’s family and her friends were paramount to her. Her love for them was, and is, legendary. Wanda’s devotion to God, Mary, and the Word was such that she spent many years in marriage preparation, RCIA, and summertime children’s programs at the church. Wanda’s faith was extended to Dean and her children. She would encourage them to become involved in church ministries including choir, children’s liturgy, working sound and volunteering at numerous church functions. Her faith became Dean’s faith which encouraged her children’s faith and strengthened their core beliefs as a Catholic family. Prayers will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Both services will be held at St. Patrick’s Parish (3339 Centennial Dr, Saskatoon). The Rite of Committal will follow after lunch (providing if Covid protocol allows) at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The family would like to thank Dr. McKague, Dr. Sami and all those people who tried to give Wanda her life back – the first responders, Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Fire Department and the Paramedics who worked tirelessly to revive her. In lieu of flowers please give generously to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada or to Diabetes Canada. Arrangements in care of David Polzen – Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Wanda Graham September 23 2021..
Mourning Glory Funeral Services
Death notice for the town of: Saskatoon, Province: Saskatchewan