Wendreth Susan Nylander

It’s with the deepest sadness that we write to let you know of the passing of our sweet Wendy. Wendreth Nylander died October 9 following a heart attack and subsequent stroke.

Wendy had an eclectic career that reflected her myriad interests, ranging from pastry cook, to nursing home activities director, to Centerpoint Energy dispatcher, to Renaissance Festival cook, and most recently, to substitute teacher. She was a Vista volunteer in Colorado, an admissions volunteer at Tapestry Folk Dance Center, an appraiser for Minnesota Destination Imagination, and an intrepid train traveler.

Her most consistent role, though, was always as a caring daughter, sister, and aunt. Wendy saw her mom through the isolation of Covid as her live-in caregiver, guided her brother through loss and upheaval, and was always a soft-landing pad for friends and relatives.

Wendy’s wide-open heart had room for everyone in the family, and their pets, friends, and foibles. If you had a favorite dish, it would be there on the table. Gluten free? Sugar free? Low salt? Wendy had you covered. She took her niblings to the best haunted houses after carefully researching the scare factors of each, sewed medieval gowns for visits to the Renaissance festival, created Christmas stockings for pets, and made Easter baskets for us which we said we were too old for but thoroughly enjoyed.

Wendy inherited her mother’s rose-colored glasses but added her own special tint of humor and generosity, creating a judgement-free, forgiving, open arms world for her family and friends. She leaves an indescribable hole in our family and our hearts.

Wendy is preceded in death by parents, John and Nancy Nylander; brother, Daniel Nylander; and sister-in-law, Pamela Strong Nylander. She is survived by her siblings, John (Dolores), Christopher (Amy), James, and Jennifer (Norman), sister-in-law, Afshan, as well as her five beloved niblings (in order of appearance) Jeffrey, Katherine, Brittany, Patrick, and Niklas.

A celebration of Wendy’s life will be held this summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you do something unexpectedly kind for someone.