- Date Of Birth: November 5, 1955
- Date Of Death: June 10, 2022
- State: Colorado
The family and friends of Cheryl are truly grieved to report that she passed away at the age of 66 on June 10, 2022. Cheryl was a wonderful woman, beloved by many people throughout many communities.
Cheryl was the third of four children, born on November 5, 1955, to Ed and Bette (Smith) Hanna in Wichita, Kansas. Bette recalled Cheryl as being a happy child who enjoyed participating in domestic life and family activities. She was also a bit of a “wild child” and after graduating from Madonna High School in Wichita, KS left to explore the world and set out on her own path. During her earliest years, she made many long-lasting friendships that have endured to this day. After college in Emporia, KS she moved to Denver, CO to work for Frontier Airlines.
Cheryl met her husband Robert (1949-2017 – ) through a mutual friend at Frontier Airlines in the 1970s. She said that when she first saw Robert she “instantly knew and loved him”. Their romance blossomed, and they were married in 1982. After marriage, Cheryl and Robert did much traveling to many locales such as San Francisco, Hawaii, and England.
She gave birth to her only child Cameron, in 1990. Cheryl said that from the time Cameron was born he was a happy and healthy boy with a curious and loving spirit. Cheryl loved, nurtured, and cherished Cameron greatly and helped him to become the strong, kind, and independent man he is today.
Cheryl was a woman of many talents and abilities. On a professional level, she worked as a waitress, saleswoman, travel agent, and most recently a 2nd-grade elementary school teacher with a Master’s Degree specialization in Early Childhood Literacy. She was passionate about helping young children learn to read, and had great expertise in identifying and resolving learning disorders and shortcomings. She positively impacted thousands of young lives throughout her career as an educator. “Mrs. Wedge” was the favorite teacher for students entering 2nd grade and their parents at Buffalo Ridge Elementary in Castle Pines, CO. Her classroom theme of “Knights, Ladies, Dragons and Castles” both inspired and reassured all who entered in there.
Cheryl was equally inspired and passionate about her hobbies and projects outside of work. She was a talented seamstress, sewing and upholstering her own clothing, home apparel, and furniture. She loved and excelled at interior design, often rearranging rooms to improve their flow and “Feng Shui”.
Cheryl was a wonderful cook, something that her son misses deeply. She was always looking for new recipes, and also tended to be her own worst critic. Even the “worst” dish was delicious and something to be grateful for.
Cheryl loved to learn and was constantly educating herself on new topics. The staff at her local library knew her by name because of the volume and frequency of books she checked out. Her YouTube history consisted mainly of homesteading, craftsmanship, gardening, and self-sufficiency!
Cheryl loved deeply and compassionately. She doted over her mother and father during their last months, always seeking to improve their condition and ease their pain to the best of her ability. She fiercely loved her husband and her son. She sacrificed her own health and well-being to be the best teacher possible for her students. She provided an unwavering shoulder and a sympathetic spirit to her friends who were struggling and suffering. If you knew Cheryl, you knew the look in her eyes she had when you were feeling pain and she was empathizing with you right there next to you.
Perhaps the most poignant and succinct statement we can make about Cheryl is that: She loved Fiercely and Deeply. She was passionate about the Natural and Holy aspects of the world. She cared for many people on a deep level and sacrificed her own well-being to support the success of others. Perhaps she did not embrace the dogma of her religious upbringing but she loved, embraced, and surrendered to Jesus Christ.
While Cheryl was taken too soon from this world, we can take solace in the fact that we all carry a piece of her spirit with us. No matter how you met and interacted with her, the legacy of her loving, passionate, and stimulating spirit will live with you forever.
Take this message from Cheryl’s life: Be proactive in taking care of yourself, love deeply without fear, and be grateful for all that God has given us.
Wichita memorial:
Sunday July 17th
Doors open at 1:00 pm, lunch is served at 2:00 pm, and the memorial begins at 3:00 pm.
Holiday Inn Wichita East I-35, an IHG Hotel
549 S Rock Rd, Wichita, KS 67207
(316) 686-7131
Denver memorial:
Saturday July 23rd
Doors open at 1:00 pm, lunch is served at 2:00 pm, and the memorial begins at 3:00 pm.
Holiday Inn & Suites Denver Tech Center-Centennial, an IHG Hotel
6638 S Nome St, Centennial, CO 80111
(303) 708-3000
