Suddenly on March 13, 2021 Wanda Lee Sauerwald (nee Jones) (aka Rose) devoted mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and caregiver. She leaves behind her daughter, Jennifer Liles (Marcus); her grandchildren Moira, Marion, and James Liles; her siblings Stanley Wayne Jones (Merry), Tommy Jones (Kathleen), Ida Beil (Jimmy) and Donald Jones (Dawn); nieces and nephews Brian Reynolds (Melanie), Joy Kurtz (Simon), Erika Lambert, Beckey Saladini (Jon), Michael Jones (Connie), Michelle Luken (Kenny) and Jacob Beil (Tia); several great nephews and nieces; and friends. She was proceeded in death by her parents Edgar Stanley and Ida Elizabeth Jones as well as her husband Leroy Sauerwald and a nephew Denny Jones.
Wanda was an extremely private, shy, and introverted lady who would admonish her daughter for writing the following but would then forgive her and have a laugh. Wanda grew up in Hampden, Baltimore City. A neighborhood that she loved and returned to until her passing. She spent her childhood playing outside, breaking her arm on roller skates, having stitches on her head, and having had one fist fight (much, much to her daughter and grandchildren’s surprise). She could be found hanging out with her mom, her friends from school and her siblings. Many stories were shared of neighborhood games, characters, and family. She graduated Western High School in 1975 and found herself intrigued by a young man at a park, that meeting led to a marriage (and divorce) and her one and only child. Her daughter was born in August of 1976 when Wanda was 19.
She raised her solely until she met and later married a widow named Leroy Sauerwald in 1986. Their meeting was not one of fate, but more of her daughter collecting worms in his yard and asking him if she were interested in a roast beef dinner. This dinner consisted of roast beef, mashed potatoes, garlic bread and ice cream sundaes. As Wanda and her daughter left this dinner, Leroy asked, “Can we do this again sometime?” And her daughter quickly answered, “YES, if you have ice cream.” Wanda and Leroy were married for 10 years before his death. At that time, she entered a career of Elder Caregiving. She aided many families in the end of the life care for their relative with such a caring spirit and love that many remained in her life after the passing of their family member. She took many of the ups and downs of that career in stride and often shared stories with her daughter of how she would make her client laugh or comfort them. For a few years she was able to take care of her first grandchild which led to many hilarious stories of ice cream for breakfast, weed whacking plants, walks around the neighborhood and beaming with pride of her granddaughter’s abilities. Many vacations and holidays were spent with her family that always included games and spirits and good food. She loved following the lives of distant friends and family and would often discuss them with her daughter. She had the ability to remember vast details of family and friend history. She loved watching dog grooming videos on YouTube and sharing any safety hazard she could find. Her greatest pride was her daughter and grandchildren. She never lacked a moment of pride or desire to share with them or about them their accomplishments. She attended graduations, a wedding, kindergarten celebrations, music performances and much more. She will be sorely missed by many and her kindness and humor will be remembered by all. There will be an empty space at any event or holiday and her quick wit will be missed by all. In lieu of a memorial service and funeral, plant some flowers in your garden and share their beauty with others.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18