8-7-2019
Hello fellow classmates –
I’ve been asked to pass on via this email and I'm sad to announce that we have lost another one of our classmates recently. Wendy Miller (Matelski) has passed away August 5, 2019. She was involved in many activities while attending both Heard Elementary and West Phoenix High School. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. It was so good to see her at the 70th Birthday party last year in March held at Encanto Park. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this most difficult time of their lives.
No public funeral services are planned.
~ Dennis Farrar, Webmaster
Gregory Peter Bray
I will always think of Wendy as one of the nicest people at West High. She was a good buddy to many of us. I'm sure many besides myself will mourn her passing.
Jan Norman (Landsbaum)
I was blessed to know Wendy. In my memory, Wendy was always smiling and cheerful, except when we cheerleaders had to run stadium steps to build up our legs, And we were doing it in summer heat! What were we thinking?
Jim Collard
Wendy was a good friend back in the day and always had a smile and something good to say. I always enjoyed her shy smile, infectious laugh and ironic humor. She made this world better and I will miss her.
Barbara Anne Grimm (Bebbling)
Wendy was part of a group of 10 who have been meeting once a month and taking annual trips for over 40 years. Five in the group are friends from college or work and five are West High classmates-Cecy (Getsinger) Gilbert, Patsy (Messner) Emminger, JoAnn (Yehling) Webley, Wendy and myself. We've shared much laughter and some tears over the years. We have many wonderful memories of our times together and Wendy will be greatly missed. Barbara (Grimm) Bebbling
John Shultz
Wendy was always very Happy with a Million Dollar smile it was really great seeing her at The 70TH B-Day Party
may she know that she will be missed by all of us, may she know that she also touched many of our Hearts
R.I.P Wendy you were a very Special Lady
Gil Jones
I wanted to wait a few days to post, to see what my classmates shared. I thought there would be more by now, but I'm sure they're coming. I never had a "girlfriend" in highschool, but Wendy was a true girl-friend. We first met in a science class and were paired together with an assignment to stare at a bunsen burner and make a list of what we observed. I was nearly paralyzed with awkward self-consciousness because I just knew she was counting the zit's on my face. As we wrote things down I became more at ease in her company; and that was the beginning of a great friendship. We didn't have many classes together after that, but it didn't matter because our friendship carried us through what many agree was the most awkward time of our lives. I just happened to see Dennis's notice about 2 hours after he posted it and decided to go out and water my backyard. It didn't take long for tears to be replaced with the inner Peace and comfort that only comes from our Best Friend's embrace. We both found Him in different ways, but had wonderful conversations about how His Love changed us from the inside out. As I watered, an unsolicited thought was "downloaded" into me of the song "Breathe". Some of you know the melody, but here's the lyric: "This is the Air I Breathe, This is the Air I Breathe, Your Holy Presnce, Living in me; ..." As I heard that beautiful worship song play within me, I got a "video" image of Wendy, radiant in her new youthful (forever) body, enjoying her freedom from daily suffocation, bathed in the atmosphere of Eternity, never having to struggle again. It's been a few months since our last contact with each other; I sent her and Leroy a DVD I thought they'd enjoy and intended to follow up soon. I've lost a great text-buddy, but only temporarily. God bless and comfort you Leroy, she often spoke of your love and care for her. To my classmates who haven't discovered their "Best Friend" yet, I encourage you to change your mind about the most misrepresented and misunderstood Person in human history. At some point there'll be a "Last Call", and the greatest Reunion ever, awaits us. Human reasoning says "Show me and I'll believe." God says "Believe, and I'll show you". My new favorite bumper sticker is "As a matter of fact, Jesus really is the answer to everything." He's waiting to prove it to you! PS - Dennis, thank you for this website; I know you don't get the acknowlegment you deserve for keeping us connected as a community; you're greatly appreciated for the time, effort, and love you've put into it, and us.
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Susan Bickersteth
Wendy and I have been friends for years sharing the good times and the sad. It is difficult to sum up over 50 years of friendship, but I could always count on Wendy to stay intouch. She was a great friend. We could speak frankly to each other and that is rare. I will miss her greatly. We shared our faith and I will see her to fellowship again.
Susie