In Memory

Wende Stitt

Wende Stitt

Our friend and classmate, Wendeanne Ke'aka Stitt, departed this world with the sunrise on February 13, 2018. She had aggressively battled ovarian cancer for over a year with treatments at Stanford. Wende's creativity and joie de vivre that we all knew in high school was only amplified as time went by. She had been living and working in Santa Cruz for many years. Here is a fantastic video from Youtube which she made to document her masterly skill with kapa cloth making, a craft and art she learned from Hawai'ian experts she collaborated with. It's but one example of her creative genius. Wende has two children, Ben and Shanae, who were with her in good times and bad, so critical to her in her final days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndx0sJyUOzc&t=138s

 

Submitted by Barry Foster



 
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02/16/18 06:04 AM #1    

Karen Cortese (Galbraith)

So sorry to hear of Wende’s passing. She was one of my favorite classmates. So talented and fun loving.

K Galbraith

 


02/16/18 08:28 AM #2    

Jeff Bartelt

Loved hanging with Wendy in art class. Rest well......


02/16/18 08:30 AM #3    

Mike Mathews

Such sad news. Thanks for the post, Barry, and for the YouTube link, it clearly reveals the love Wende carried for her art.


02/16/18 09:10 AM #4    

Neil Jaques

Wende had a spirit and energy larger than life. We lost one of the good ones.

 


02/16/18 11:44 AM #5    

Mike Riedl

Wende had such a beautiful smile... wonderful spirit... she made the world a better place... so glad i knew her... if only briefly...

 


02/16/18 12:34 PM #6    

Dallis Berkseth

Wende was the definition of vivacious personality. Very saddened to hear the news of her illness and passing.


02/16/18 06:13 PM #7    

Barry Foster

Though I had known Wende through high school, she and I really got to know each other in Mrs. Matthews' typing class which was spring term of our senior year.  We shared a table.  There would be timed tests to see how many words a minute you could type with the fewest mistakes.  We would be racing along and then Wende would reach over and poke at my keys.  Truth be told, we did it to one another.  Poor Mrs. Matthews.  Wende had the best sense of humor and when she laughed, it was from the bottom of her soul.  We kept in touch over the years and while we didn't see each other often, it was always like no time at all had passed.  I was lucky enough to see several of her art expressions in progress:  she had crazy talent and a busy, busy mind.  It was always a treat to be in her presence and she is sorely missed by a huge fan base.  I'll remember her and our friendship until my last days here.  And boy, could she toss out the F word in an amazing multitude of conjugations.  Miss Murty would have been proud.  Wende was the best.


02/24/18 02:46 PM #8    

Ronn Woolley

What a great person and friendly spirit! She always accepted and appreciated me in HS. Have lived here in Walnut Creek, CA for 4 years -- caregiver and nurse to my Mother -- but didn't communicate with Wende except on this site.  Will certainly miss a wonderful human! 


02/04/20 08:12 AM #9    

Sunny (Janet) Crowley

I don't check this site often! I'm sorry to hear of Wende's passing. She was truly inspired! She was a friend growing up in LO, but lost contact when I moved to Hawaii so many years ago. We touched base a few years back, but she did not share her illness or healing journey with me! Many blessings Sister!!


09/30/22 12:20 PM #10    

Ric Bailey

Wende had a positively snappy sense of humor.  Senior year, she went from wearing geeky glasses and conservative clothes, let her hair down and morphed into a swan.  But her joyous demeanor never changed.


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