Obituary of Wanda Frances Williams

Wanda Williams was the 15th child born of the Gregorek family at Curtis Bay in Baltimore, Maryland in 1921. Hard work was not foreign to this member of "The Greatest Generation"; molding her into a tenacious woman with a spirit that was undaunted by the many physical challenges that manifested in her life. As a child, Wanda toiled with her Polish family of sharecroppers, and with the passing of her immigrant parents by age 15, labored at cleaning houses and in the manufacturing industry. Beginning in 1943, she contributed to the war effort for 3 years with Simplex Piston. In October of 952, she married Alvin Williams in Cleveland, Ohio, becoming "Mom" to Alvin's two sons and one daughter, and thereafter giving birth to two sons. The Williams family moved to Torrance, California in the late spring of 1959. Wanda served as a volunteer at St. James Parish in Redondo Beach and worked at a Laundromat through the 1970's. During that time she was a member of The Women of the Moose, where she earned their highest degrees for community service and service to the fraternity. In October of 1964, Al and Wanda purchased their lot in Lake Havasu; where in 1980, they built and moved into their retirement home. Wanda became a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul, where she sorted clothing for 31 years, until in 2014; a stroke prevented her from helping further. Throughout her life and marriage of 60 years, Wanda enjoyed dancing, crocheting, gardening, camping, fishing, bowling, playing cards, watching "soaps" and baseball. She was unwavering in her convictions, with a love for life, her family and her friends. On June 29th; her 95th birthday, Wand suffered a severe heart attack. She persevered until August 5, 2016, when Wanda peacefully rejoined her loved ones in Christ. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the Williams family at www.lietzfrazefuneralhome.com.