Dellaquila Family Memorial/Support Fund
Donation protected
On Monday August 19th 2019, Heaven gained its best angel yet, my mother Wendy Dellaquila. An incredible woman. A force to be reckoned with. A champion for the underdog. A kind heart, in a sometimes awful world. My mom is no longer in pain. May she rest easy knowing that she is loved, and well remembered by so many.
Just as my mom was best friends with her mother (Anna Marie Shute, deceased 2017), my mom and I (Jacki Dellaquila) were best friends. We spoke multiple times throughout our day and I hung out with her and my father (Michael Dellaquila) every evening. My Mother was a proud daughter, sister, wife, mother, and Yaya. She was a devoted, loving, proud wife of my father for 44 yrs.
My mother was so very proud that my sister (Dena Kimball) grew up to be just like her. Dena uses mom's example of applying her vast legal knowledge to her life as a disability rights advocate for her two autistic boys and their tribe. Wendy was a proud Yaya (grandmother) to Dena's beautiful boys (Isaac and Benjamin Kimball). They lit her face up every time she was asked about them, and she loved seeing them in the videos they shared with her daily.
She could give advice like no other, and was always ready to give support in any way others might need. If you know me, it's clear where I get most of my best traits from! Mom always made you feel welcome and part of the family. She is survived by many children who may not have been hers biologically, but we're most definitely connected to her through her community involvement. She wasn't just my mom, or Dena's mom...but, Mom to ALL of our friends. I hope they each know how much she loved them, and was proud of their accomplishments. Her heart shone through her chest so much you could feel the warmth in her perfect hugs.
Mom loved to be involved in her community; from politics, to youth services, to metal detecting.
She served as a Camden County Committee Chairperson, for the Republican party, in the late 80's and early 90's. Mom was a volunteer for the Camden County Board of Elections for almost every election for two decades. She taught us how important it is to not just perform the civic duty of voting, but to do so in an informed and active manner.
My mom was committed to making our childhood community of Oaklyn the best it could be. She was a community leader in children's organizations, events and services. She led the Oaklyn majorettes, as a volunteer administrator. Mom was always working to ensure the Oaklyn Marching Band's practice location in the Burrough Hall. She was a safe person, creating a safe space, for the local kids to come together through music and marching
Mom was an active board member of the Oaklyn Municipal Youth Alliance . She organized fundraisers to create events and trips for the local youth of Oaklyn. There were dances every month at the Oaklyn Public School, supported by the local police. She organized open gym nights, once a month, at the school. Mom even organized an annual ski trip for the local kids a few years in a row! These were her way of giving us, and our friends, something to do in a safe space.
My mom did it all. As if volunteering as a local politician/advocate, and actively creating a safe community as a parent and leader wasn't enough. Mom held several officer positions in the South Jersey Metal Detecting Club and the Federation of Metal Detectorists and Archeologists throughout the 80's and 90's. She loved the mystery and the research that goes into finding interesting places to detect, dig, and find artifacts. She had always loved the ancient history of Egypt and the Paroah's tombs. This hobby allowed her to combine her leadership skills with her love of ancient history and archeology.
Somehow, my mom balanced all of her volunteering and community leadership roles, with being an amazing mother and a full time legal secretary. She worked with several well respected attorneys throughout her tenure as a legal secretary. She was a lifetime learner, and enjoyed taking classes and seminars about all different types of law. For the most part she worked with single practitioners or small firms, and became family with everyone in each office. Mom's ability to continually add to her extensive network of family and friends, built a community around our family. She taught Dena and I how to learn and grow through the experiences we shared with others. As children we had many "aunts" and "uncles". I hope they each know how much she appreciated and respected their roles in our growth as children into the adults we are today.
She still found time to take Dena and I along on one of her favorite past times, yardsaling! My memories of early weekend mornings, listening to the coolest music of the 80's, driving from yard sale to yard sale. She loved finding bargains and treasures. Mom definitely taught us how to spot a good deal!
Mom also extremely close with her own parents. Dinner, shopping, holidays, hanging out...we were often all at Memom's and Poppy's house as a family. She helped Memom and Poppy to participate in antique and doll shows all over the tri-state area. She always loved a good doll show!
For the last twenty years, mom has been through many medical hurdles that could have taken down the strongest and healthiest of people. But my mom overcame and endured it all. In 2000 she hemorrhaged and we almost lost her. Soon after, she learned that she had neuroendocrine cancer. The cancer jumped all over her body. Over the last two decades, she has endured multiple surgeries, chemo treatments, radiation treatments, and countless invasive medical tests. In 2004 she had a total left lung removal and has been on oxygen since. Over time she developed lesions on her pancreas, diabetes, and intense full body pain. Knowing that she is no longer in pain is a great help in consoling our grief in losing her.
This past year has been one of the worst for Mom, in terms of her health. She spent February through late June in multiple hospitals and facilities fighting her way back to us. She was on a ventilator, and then a trach, trach removal and fought her way back to us and on the road to recovery. She had been home almost 3 months and had been doing physical therapy and getting better slowly but surely. Monday was not expected.
Mom's cancer diagnosis made her uninsurable for the last twenty years. She was unable to purchase life insurance to help us through this difficult time. Dad, Dena, and I are already struggling to make ends meet, and are struggling to find a way to pay for Mom's cremation and memorial service. Dad and I are working together to figure out the best living arrangement, in order save money and support one another through the loss of our leader and rock.
I find myself in the position of humbly asking you that in lieu of flowers, please donate here instead. All contributions will go towards funeral/memorial costs, to help Dad cover the costs of transitioning to life without his best friend, and other unexpected expenses that come from such a situation. Please do not feel obligated in any way. Hugs are always welcome and appreciated!
Thank for reading all that I have written. How can I write all about such an incredible woman's life and passing in such a short piece. Mom deserves a book about her struggles, adventures, accomplishments, and impact on this world. Please know that she loved you all, and always appreciated your love and support. As mom would say, "Love you, xoxo".
Just as my mom was best friends with her mother (Anna Marie Shute, deceased 2017), my mom and I (Jacki Dellaquila) were best friends. We spoke multiple times throughout our day and I hung out with her and my father (Michael Dellaquila) every evening. My Mother was a proud daughter, sister, wife, mother, and Yaya. She was a devoted, loving, proud wife of my father for 44 yrs.
My mother was so very proud that my sister (Dena Kimball) grew up to be just like her. Dena uses mom's example of applying her vast legal knowledge to her life as a disability rights advocate for her two autistic boys and their tribe. Wendy was a proud Yaya (grandmother) to Dena's beautiful boys (Isaac and Benjamin Kimball). They lit her face up every time she was asked about them, and she loved seeing them in the videos they shared with her daily.
She could give advice like no other, and was always ready to give support in any way others might need. If you know me, it's clear where I get most of my best traits from! Mom always made you feel welcome and part of the family. She is survived by many children who may not have been hers biologically, but we're most definitely connected to her through her community involvement. She wasn't just my mom, or Dena's mom...but, Mom to ALL of our friends. I hope they each know how much she loved them, and was proud of their accomplishments. Her heart shone through her chest so much you could feel the warmth in her perfect hugs.
Mom loved to be involved in her community; from politics, to youth services, to metal detecting.
She served as a Camden County Committee Chairperson, for the Republican party, in the late 80's and early 90's. Mom was a volunteer for the Camden County Board of Elections for almost every election for two decades. She taught us how important it is to not just perform the civic duty of voting, but to do so in an informed and active manner.
My mom was committed to making our childhood community of Oaklyn the best it could be. She was a community leader in children's organizations, events and services. She led the Oaklyn majorettes, as a volunteer administrator. Mom was always working to ensure the Oaklyn Marching Band's practice location in the Burrough Hall. She was a safe person, creating a safe space, for the local kids to come together through music and marching
Mom was an active board member of the Oaklyn Municipal Youth Alliance . She organized fundraisers to create events and trips for the local youth of Oaklyn. There were dances every month at the Oaklyn Public School, supported by the local police. She organized open gym nights, once a month, at the school. Mom even organized an annual ski trip for the local kids a few years in a row! These were her way of giving us, and our friends, something to do in a safe space.
My mom did it all. As if volunteering as a local politician/advocate, and actively creating a safe community as a parent and leader wasn't enough. Mom held several officer positions in the South Jersey Metal Detecting Club and the Federation of Metal Detectorists and Archeologists throughout the 80's and 90's. She loved the mystery and the research that goes into finding interesting places to detect, dig, and find artifacts. She had always loved the ancient history of Egypt and the Paroah's tombs. This hobby allowed her to combine her leadership skills with her love of ancient history and archeology.
Somehow, my mom balanced all of her volunteering and community leadership roles, with being an amazing mother and a full time legal secretary. She worked with several well respected attorneys throughout her tenure as a legal secretary. She was a lifetime learner, and enjoyed taking classes and seminars about all different types of law. For the most part she worked with single practitioners or small firms, and became family with everyone in each office. Mom's ability to continually add to her extensive network of family and friends, built a community around our family. She taught Dena and I how to learn and grow through the experiences we shared with others. As children we had many "aunts" and "uncles". I hope they each know how much she appreciated and respected their roles in our growth as children into the adults we are today.
She still found time to take Dena and I along on one of her favorite past times, yardsaling! My memories of early weekend mornings, listening to the coolest music of the 80's, driving from yard sale to yard sale. She loved finding bargains and treasures. Mom definitely taught us how to spot a good deal!
Mom also extremely close with her own parents. Dinner, shopping, holidays, hanging out...we were often all at Memom's and Poppy's house as a family. She helped Memom and Poppy to participate in antique and doll shows all over the tri-state area. She always loved a good doll show!
For the last twenty years, mom has been through many medical hurdles that could have taken down the strongest and healthiest of people. But my mom overcame and endured it all. In 2000 she hemorrhaged and we almost lost her. Soon after, she learned that she had neuroendocrine cancer. The cancer jumped all over her body. Over the last two decades, she has endured multiple surgeries, chemo treatments, radiation treatments, and countless invasive medical tests. In 2004 she had a total left lung removal and has been on oxygen since. Over time she developed lesions on her pancreas, diabetes, and intense full body pain. Knowing that she is no longer in pain is a great help in consoling our grief in losing her.
This past year has been one of the worst for Mom, in terms of her health. She spent February through late June in multiple hospitals and facilities fighting her way back to us. She was on a ventilator, and then a trach, trach removal and fought her way back to us and on the road to recovery. She had been home almost 3 months and had been doing physical therapy and getting better slowly but surely. Monday was not expected.
Mom's cancer diagnosis made her uninsurable for the last twenty years. She was unable to purchase life insurance to help us through this difficult time. Dad, Dena, and I are already struggling to make ends meet, and are struggling to find a way to pay for Mom's cremation and memorial service. Dad and I are working together to figure out the best living arrangement, in order save money and support one another through the loss of our leader and rock.
I find myself in the position of humbly asking you that in lieu of flowers, please donate here instead. All contributions will go towards funeral/memorial costs, to help Dad cover the costs of transitioning to life without his best friend, and other unexpected expenses that come from such a situation. Please do not feel obligated in any way. Hugs are always welcome and appreciated!
Thank for reading all that I have written. How can I write all about such an incredible woman's life and passing in such a short piece. Mom deserves a book about her struggles, adventures, accomplishments, and impact on this world. Please know that she loved you all, and always appreciated your love and support. As mom would say, "Love you, xoxo".
Co-organizers (2)
Jacki Dellaquila
Organizer
Runnemede, NJ
Dena Kimball
Co-organizer