Wanda Lacey Garside Maero

After fighting off stage-four Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and three reoccurrences thereof (“being blessed with 17 bonus years,” in her words), and surviving a plane crash, Wanda Lacey Maero passed away on September 29, 2023, at the age of 90.

Wanda was born in Oronogo, Missouri on June 25, 1933, to Rollan A. and Margaret Stults Lacey. She was the eighth of nine children in that happy, humble home. It was in this small mining town where this Christ-loving family was taught by missionaries, and after lengthy study and prayer, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Due to a slow-down in mining, the family moved to North Ogden, Utah when Wanda was 14. She attended and graduated from Weber High School Class of 1951 and from Weber College (as she still refers to it this day). She maintained life-long friendships and loved lunches with the “Weber Girls” and the “Weber College Girls,” along with her Bridge Club group. While at college, she participated in the La Dianida Sorority, and 20 years later would be one of its advisors.

She married Don D. Garside in 1954, and had two children, Joni (Rick) Wall of Riverdale, and Steven L (Cristine) Garside of Uintah. She later married Norman L. Maero in 1986, and gained two stepchildren, Pam (Bob) Carter of Morgan, and Michael (Susan) Maero of Perry.

Wanda worked for the Standard Examiner, aka Ogden Standard Examiner, for over 40 years, in several capacities, and was its first computer programmer – as she never shied away from challenges.

Wanda appreciated the exquisite things in life and was able to travel and experience the good in people. From Asia to Africa, from Australia and New Zealand, to the Mediterranean and Europe, she loved to learn and embrace customs, cultures, and people. Her two favorite vacations were when the entire family gathered for a long weekend at Bear Hollow, and her trip across the Serengeti, and in that order, she emphasized.

She and Norm lived in Arkansas, South Carolina, and North Carolina, relocating for his work with Nucor Steel.

While there she relished immersing herself in the people and that southern hospitality.

Wanda loved sports and was a talented athlete, and she continued to enjoy water- and snow-skiing through her life. She was a season ticket holder for Weber State sports, and was able to attend Super Bowls, and the opening ceremony for the Olympics. Yet her favorite spectating was that of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – even more than watching Joni and Steve.

Wanda’s life was one of charity for people, and she would strive to give Christ-like service. She was blessed with, and magnified, the attribute of unconditional love and acceptance of all. To this day she is in contact with friends from wherever she lived or traveled, remembering the important events in their lives. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her charitable and service-oriented nature was underscored. She served in stakes, wards and branches, in the Young Women’s program and in Relief Society, being a president multiple times. To this day, her favorite calling was that of an Early-Morning Seminary Teacher, which she did for several years, in two different states. She still hears from her students.

She leaves behind a brother, Clyde “Smoke” Lacey of Brandon, Mississippi; a sister, Genile Richardson of South Ogden; her two children and two stepchildren; eight grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren, 42 great and great-great grandchildren (with three on the way); and innumerable nieces and nephews (and even Genile will admit, Wanda was the favorite aunt). She was preceded in death by her husband, Norm; her parents; her sisters, Ruth Lacey and Nita Carey; and her brothers, Bernard, Bob, Don, and Bill Lacey.

Her family acknowledges how blessed we are to have had such an elegant, yet practical – such a proper, yet sometimes a hillbilly of a woman of God in our lives. We want to thank our extended family, Mom’s friends, and neighbors for the care and love they showed her through life, and, along with the hospice nurses, for continuing to do so as she ended her sojourn in this mortal existence. She lives on, and we will live better with Wanda in our hearts. We love you Mom!

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity, and call your mom or someone who would be lifted by a hello.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit family on Wednesday, October 4th from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd., Ogden.

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Wanda's obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com, where condolences may also be shared.

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