Wanda Banchero

Banchero, Wanda, Plymouth, MI Age 87. Our devoted and loving mother passed away on June 2, 2014, peacefully in her home. Wanda is survived by her children Marvy (Renzo) Spallasso, Roberto Banchero (deceased), Marina (Tom) Roelofs, and Marco (Diane) Banchero; grandchildren Marco, Michelle, Alex, Kevin, Nick, and Alexa; and great-grandchildren Johnny, Maggie, and Michael. Visitation Thursday, June 5, 2014 3-9 PM at Vermeulen - Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 W. Ann Arbor Road, (Btwn Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth. Rosary Thursday 7 PM. In state Friday 10:00 AM until 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 47650 N. Territorial Rd., Plymouth. THE LEGACY OF WANDA RESPINI BANCHERO Wanda (Respini) Banchero was born on November 3rd, 1926 in Pieve Vergonte, a small Alpine town at the Italian-Swiss border. Her true joy and passion in life was taking care of and sharing all that she had with her family and friends. She passed away peacefully and with family at her home in Plymouth, MI on June 2, 2014 at the age of 87. Wanda was a truly caring and devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend. Her true passion in life was taking care of and sharing all that she had with her family and friends. Wanda will be deeply missed by all that knew her. Wanda was born to loving parents Luigi and Santina and was the middle child of older sister Emma and younger sister Miriam. Despite being the middle child, Wanda occasionally showed some precocious qualities of a youngest child. On one occasion, her sister Emma was given a new lace dress that Wanda thought was beautiful. She asked her parents for a similar lace dress and was told that she was too young. Wanda decided to take matters into her own hands and crawled under her bed with her nicest dress and a pair of scissors, creating her own version of a lace dress. Wanda spent her early years in Northern Italy, living through World War II. She spoke very little about what she saw and experienced during this time, except sharing that she spent one year in Switzerland working as a nurse’s aide when she was 18 years old. Wanda’s father Luigi was a Segretario Comunale (Government Official), this job caused him to move his family frequently to different towns in Piemonte. In Wanda’s early 20s, the family moved to Cantalupo Ligure in Val Borbera. It was here that Wanda met her future husband, Angelo Banchero. Wanda and Angelo were married and quickly started a family. Wanda had studied to be a school teacher but dedicated her life to assisting her husband in the early years of his engineering career and to raising her children. Wanda was an extremely loving and devoted mother to her children Marvy, Roberto, Marina, and Marco. Unfortunately, Wanda lost her beloved Roberto to illness when he was only 3 years old. She wore a locket with Roberto’s photo every day until her death. This tragic loss caused Wanda to become extremely protective of her children and eventually of her grandchildren. Wanda and Angelo had several opportunities to leave Italy but Wanda did not want to leave her beloved father. After Luigi’s passing, Angelo accepted a position with a firm that was designing a highway in Nigeria, Africa. After two years of Angelo working in Nigeria, Wanda and the children joined for 9 months. Wanda, an animal lover herself, always allowed her children to have as many pets as they wanted. This was especially evident in Africa when the family adopted several monkeys, small mammals, a turtle, and a parrot. The parrot was soon mimicking Wanda’s constant cries of 'Marco! Dove sei?', 'Marco! Dove vai?' ('Marco, where are you?', 'Marco, where are you going?'). After returning from Africa, Wanda and Angelo decided to move to America at the invitation of Angelo’s brother, Felix. This was a major move for the family and for Wanda at age 43 Wanda moved to a new country, learned a new language, and eventually learned to drive for the first time. She enjoyed driving and this was beneficial to her children because she was always ready to help out and drive the grandchildren to wherever they needed to be, or to drive in circles tirelessly in the church parking lot to help the little restless ones fall asleep. In America, Wanda continued her role as mother and homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and was constantly feeding anyone and everyone her delicious meals always repeating 'Mangia! Mangia!' ('Eat! Eat!'). She was always concerned for everyone’s safety, making it a priority to look out for her children and grandchildren. If there was a thunderstorm forecasted, Wanda was sure to call all of her children and grandchildren to urge them to come home immediately whether they were out with friends or in a business meeting. Wanda made daily phone calls to all of her family members to check in and see how they were doing. She was active in her grandchildren’s lives, staying very close to all of them a true hands-on grandmother. She also took the time to help friends in need, including visiting elderly women to keep them company and help with household chores. Wanda had a special bond with her sisters. Even though they lived an ocean apart, she was in regular contact with them and kept up with their daily lives and the lives of her nieces and nephews. She was able to see them in person a few times both here in the US and on trips that she made to Italy to see family. She was very saddened by their passing several years ago. Wanda was very talented at knitting and crochet. She made many beautiful outfits for her own children, grandchildren, friends, and other family members. Later in life she continued to knit hats, booties, and blankets to donate to local hospitals, churches, and other charitable organizations. Wanda made many sacrifices for the well-being and benefit of her family. She was deeply generous, devoted, loving, and caring. She loved to laugh and truly enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was the center and heartbeat of her close-knit family. She will be dearly missed but her memory will live on through her children and grandchildren.

Wanda Banchero

November 3, 1926 - June 2, 2014