- Date Of Birth: April 22, 1933
- Date Of Death: May 2, 2018
- State: Illinois
Wanda Bright, 85, passed away on Saturday evening, April 28th at the Centralia Manor Nursing Home after a long battle with cancer.
Wanda was born on April 22, 1933 in Valier, Illinois the daughter of Otis and Mabel (nee Dillard) Burnam. She was preceded in death by both parents, one sister Monte, one brother Gene of Indianapolis, Indiana. Surviving family members include: two sons, Paul (Lenora) Bright of Peoria, IL; Doug Bright of Bloomington, IN; one “adopted” daughter, Anna Donoho of Centralia; three grandchildren, Nicholas (Lindsey) Bright of Peoria, IL, Jessica Bright of Orlando, FL, and Emily Bright of Charlotte, NC; and two great grandchildren, Charlotte and Henry Bright of Peoria.
Wanda, a true coal miner’s daughter, grew up in Valier, IL. She often spoke of a childhood growing up with first-generation immigrant children from many nations whose parents were all drawn to the mining jobs. She was the valedictorian of her high school graduating class of nine and her sons never tired of kidding her about it. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren spending many hours arranging and displaying their photos. In 1966 she became school secretary, nurse, bookkeeper and administrative assistant at Willow Grove Grade School where she served countless children until her retirement in 1996. After retiring, Wanda learned to ride horses, taught her grandchildren to fish, inadvertently taught them to swear, and earned certification as a Master Gardener. She enjoyed writing articles on gardening and the outdoors for the local newspaper. She attended the Calumet Street Christian Church in Centralia and was a strong person of faith and prayer.
