NORWICH – Wanetta Jessie Woodard, 79, long-time resident of the Norwich area, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday night, Feb. 6, 2008 in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Born in Garfield County, Colorado in September of 1928, Wanetta was the daughter of Elmo and Marleia Daniels. She attended school in Colorado before moving east. On Sept. 2, 1950, in Norwich, she married Ivan Robert Woodard and they settled in Pennsylvania during the years he was in the service. Following Ivan’s honorary discharge, Wanetta and her family returned to Norwich. Though she worked for a time for the U-Pump-’Em Gas Station on East Main Street, Wanetta was essentially a stay-at-home mom whose greatest joy was in being with her family. She was a soft-spoken woman with a warm smile and a kind word for everyone. She was known for her great dark molasses cookies and would crochet in quiet moments, but was more inclined to be out with her children, watching them play basketball or soccer or participating in swim meets. One of Wanetta’s regrets was that she never finished high school and, over the years, she would bring out the books and study. A few years ago her dream came true when she was awarded her GED from SUNY Morrisville. It was one of her proudest moments and a source of great pride to her family as well.
Wanetta is survived by her children and their spouses: Gary and Carrie Woodard of Fairbanks, Alaska, Timothy and Teresa Woodard of Norwich, Terry and Terri Ann Woodard of Norwich, and Patrick and Joann Woodard of Norwich. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Patty Woodard; her sisters and their husbands, Shirley and John Merlino of Norwich and Alberta and Don Savory of Greene; and her grandchildren: Jimmy, Jenifer, Danielle, Alicia, Jason, Steven, April, Jeffrey, Curtis, and Corry Woodard; nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her special friend with whom she loved to gad about, Sarah Fleming of Norwich. Wanetta was predeceased by her husband Ivan on Oct. 31, 1992; by her son, Ivan “Jim” Woodard on July 4, 2006, and by her brother George Daniels.
Funeral services for Wanetta will be held at 7 p.m. Monday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Glenn Mahaffey, rector of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, will officiate. Interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Chenango County SPCA, 6160 County Rd. 32, Norwich, NY 13815; or to the American Diabetes Assoc., 6390 Fly Road, 2nd Floor, E. Syracuse, NY 13057.