Wanda (Hovatter) Hearn departed this life on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, the day the Christmas star appeared.
She was the youngest child of the late Charles Emery Hovatter and Ella Agnes Burns, who moved from West Virginia to settle on the Eastern Shore. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by eight brothers, Elmer, Delbert, Tommy, Gay, Wilson, Elston, Claudene and Harold and three sisters, Etta, Leoda and Ora.
In addition, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years Albert Hearn who passed in 2005 and her oldest daughter Sharon Bradley, who passed in 1974.
Wanda was a 1945 graduate of Delmar High School and worked for Benjamins Fashions until she married in 1947 to Albert Hearn from Laurel. They made their home in Delmar, Del., starting a big family of their own. Wanda and Albert both worked for the DuPont Nylon Plant in Seaford and retired together in 1985. In 2004 they moved from their longtime home in Delmar to the Salisbury area. They were always surrounded by their children and grandchildren as well as many relatives and friends of the Hearn and Hovatter families. They made everyone feel welcome.
Wanda was first and foremost a devoted wife and loving mother who always put her family before herself. She always said she lived for her family and children. Wanda was an avid reader, excellent cook, a seamstress always hemming and fixing clothes for all her kids, loved working in the yard and always pulling weeds, enjoyed planning family reunions, and working on her genealogy.
She will be remembered for her love of animals and her two Yorkies she adored “Angie & Andy.”
Wanda is survived by her children, Terry and his wife Mary of Davidsonville, Md., Suzanne and her husband Lyn Vetra of Delmar, Ricky and his wife Ellen of Delmar, Bonnie and her husband Ronald Hatfield of Laurel, John of Delmar, Alan and his wife Sandy of Parsonsburg, and Danny and his wife Karen of Delmar. Additionally, Wanda is survived by seven grandchildren, Staci and her husband Chris Wheatley, Eric, Ashley and her husband Garrett Lee, Jessica, Shanna, Alexandra, Blake and five great-grandchildren, Mindi and her husband Ben O’Bier, Jacob, Danielle, Rebecca and her husband Donald Roe, Emma Wheatley, and one great-great-grandchild Hayden O’Bier. We also want to acknowledge lifelong friend Harry Pringle and his wife Cindy. Harry was the neighbor that adopted Wanda as his mom too.
The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to all the nurses and staff (too many to name) of Wicomico Nursing Home for all the comfort, understanding, kindness and love they extended to Wanda and to her family during her residence. The family will never forget the support and compassion Wicomico Nursing Home gave each of them.
A visitation was held Wednesday, Dec. 30 in the Short Funeral Home, 13 East Grove Street, Delmar. A graveside service at St. Stephens Cemetery in Delmar followed.
In remembrance of Wanda and her many words of wisdom. She always said “To always treat others the way you want to be treated.” She was dearly loved and will always be missed.
Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home in Delmar. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.