Wendy Marie Whiting

Birth date: Mar 14, 1965 Death date: Apr 25, 2021

Wendy Marie Whiting died unexpectedly in her home in Vineyard, Utah on April 25, 2021. Wendy was born March 14, 1965 in Lansing, Michigan to her surviving parents Gordon and Barbara Whiting. She was a loving and caring presence in Read Obituary

Wall Obituary Events Media

Bev Whiting

240w ago

There are 3 things I remember most about Wendy Marie. The first was her warm, loving smile. Her smile lifted everyone. The second was her ability to find good in all things. That trait was an example to everyone around her. The third was the gratitude she expressed, even for little things. The smallest gesture on your part earned a big thank you from her. Even though we haven't seen her very frequently in recent years, I still see her smile, her positive attitude and her attitude of gratitude whenever I think about her. Farewell dear Wendy until we meet again. May loving arms of family surround you in this your next step into eternity.
Aunt Bev

Daniel Frank Bentley

240w ago

Wendy was a positive role model in our home growing up. Seems like she always had a fresh perspective at our dinner table conversations! She often disagreed, but I don’t remember her being disagreeable. Not sure if the older sibs had the same experience as us, but I even remember her asking my opinion about things although I was young, dumb and inexperienced. I know she loved our family and appreciated the invites for dinner and other family events. I luckily reconnected with her a couple of times this last year and had some great chats! She had retired and moved down to Utah Valley and was still so easy to talk to. She was interested in my helicopter career and had lots of great questions.

Knowing her helped remind me that the Lord doesn’t regard our outward appearances. He looks at our hearts and I always got the impression that she is very special to Him. For whatever reason this is hard to remember for all of us and I think this aspect is a gift to me, who is, too often, preoccupied with appearances.

Wendy had a successful career as an advocate for disadvantaged people in her role as a social worker for the State of Utah. Who knows how many lives she influenced and touched? Obviously this was always behind the scenes which is how she probably preferred it. I believe she lived a courageous life and I’m proud to call her my cousin and friend!

Dan

Sharon E Gehring

240w ago

My memories of Wendy Marie come in snippets and really tell a lot about the influence she had on my life. Wendy and I were 2 of 8 grand-daughters on the Whiting side. Neither of us had a girl cousin exactly our age. As a child, I remember looking at her senior picture on Grandma Whiting's shelves and thinking she was gorgeous. She did have the most beautiful eyes. I am happy to say there have been times in my life I have looked in the mirror and seen similar eyes as well as facial features. I was and am happy to know we are related.
Wendy served a mission to Florida when I was around 10. She wrote me letters throughout her mission. Her service and experience gave me my first desires to serve a mission of my own, which I eventually did. When she graduated from college, we went places together and she would tell me about her work as a social worker. Once again, she sparked an interest in social work and I looked into that as a career for myself. I remember the joy she felt when she bought her own car and came to show it off at our house. One of my favorite memories with Wendy was our temple trip. Wendy wanted to show her independence and travel somewhere. She asked me (I may have been 19 or 20) to accompany her. We visited Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks, attended the St. George Temple and were on our way to Mesa, AZ when her car overheated in the 90 plus degree weather. I was young and completely unhelpful. She courageously got us towed back to town, we fixed her car enough and decided the best thing was to head home. She was devastated and sadly I'm not sure she ever tried to repeat that trip. I would have gone in a heartbeat. Wendy cross-stitched beautifully and taught me the correct way to do it. Her work on the quilt I was working on by far is the prettiest and I attempted to copy her work. I was there when Wendy showed me her brand new apartment in Salt Lake. It was newly painted and beautifully decorated. Once again the pride she had in her independence was evident and I was so happy for her.
Of course Wendy was a fun addition to many of our family dinners growing up. She was smart and was able to challenge each of us with her conversation. She spoke with everyone and offered her services often. It says a lot about Wendy that she got into making balloon figures. She wanted to be approachable to everyone especially the children. She decided and told me this herself, "When I make balloons and share them with children they don't see my weight." It was true. She was a favorite when she showed up with those balloons.
I feel it a great honor that she sent me a Christmas card each year. She called to ask for help when she had a medical procedure and had no other way to get home. I last spoke with her when she was moving back to Provo. We offered our help but typically for her she said, "I think I have it figured out. I'll let you know if I need you." She didn't want to be a burden to me or to anyone else and she was not.
I learned many lessons of love from and for Wendy Marie. I loved her. I loved her laugh. My family loved her. My mother especially loved her. She was accepted as is and I'm so grateful she would come. It probably wasn't easy to come alone. Her weight was obviously a factor, but because of her willingness to interact with us anyway, we loved her. I will miss Wendy. I am grateful now and always for her influence on my life.
Sincerely, Sharon Bentley Gehring (her cousin)

Michael Whiting

240w ago

Created a new album - Memories Album.

Wendy Bentley

240w ago

Memories of Wendy Marie Whiting by her Aunt Wendy

Wendy was born the spring of my freshman year at BYU and so I detoured to Madison, Wisconsin on my way home for summer vacation to meet my namesake and see her family. From then on, I have felt a bond and special connection with her.

She had a happy laugh and kind heart. She was talented at handwork and could create beauty. In these last years she would show me the sewing projects she was working on for her nieces and nephews. Once I gave her a challenge to copy a crocheted pin cushion that Grandy Cook had given to me when I was a child. Not only did she copy it, but she also deciphered Grandy’s intricate pattern and wrote out the directions of how she did it!

Over the years we shared many memories. She and Uncle Toney had fun discussing and debating politics. And until the last year or so when she couldn’t sit comfortably, we would play board games around the table. Our children remember visiting her at Christmas time, and her coming for birthdays. She learned how to make balloon animals, and that delighted them. Before Sharon married and became involved as a mother, they would go to concerts or plays together. They even planned a temple trip to Arizona. Unfortunately, they only made it to the St. George temple before her car broke down and their trip was cut short.

Dan kept in touch with her for years. When I gave him the news of her passing, he said he had talked with her just a few months ago. Uncle Toney and I saw her last when we went over to help her pack for her move to Utah County. I called and sent a card for her birthday, but I regret not having gone to visit since she moved from Salt Lake.

Her life wasn’t easy. She told me once that when she had been young and had lost weight boys began to look at her differently and that scared her and made her feel uncomfortable. We all deal with our own demons and challenges. I will miss her. She was my special namesake and very beloved niece. Until we meet again dear Wendy I will keep your memory safe in my heart.

Sharon E Gehring

240w ago

Tribute Wall

Tribute Wall