Ida Wendt

Ida Wendt passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 13, 2023, surrounded by family, friends, and an overwhelming amount of love, prayers and support. She was just shy of celebrating her 62nd trip around the sun.

Ida was born August 15, 1961, at the Moto’otua Hospital in Apia, Samoa to Sianiusami Sanerivi (deceased) and Tuaopepe Alualu Henry J. Wendt (deceased). She is one of 24 siblings- Hans, Felix (deceased), Albert, Max (deceased), Joseph (deceased), Mary, Elizabeth, Lloyd (deceased), Luisa, Amy (deceased), Ruth, Alan, Rhoda, Lily, Esther, Thomas (deceased), Lizzie, Alualu, Benjamin, Philip, Alfred, Matthew, and Mark.

It is worth mentioning that Ida technically had 2 birthdates. Many of us were not aware of her “actual” birthday until recently. To set the record straight and clear up any confusion, Ida was born on August 15, 1961, her Samoan birth certificate verifies this. Somehow, when she got her US citizenship that date changed to the 16th. This will be known as her “American birthday”.

She attended Apia Primary School, Leififi Intermediate, then migrated to Auckland New Zealand to attend Hillary College, Otara and later relocated to Wellington to attend Porirua College. In her younger days, she was athletic, inquisitive and musical. She played soccer in high school and filled her days reading, which her siblings would argue was her way of avoiding doing chores. Fun fact- Ida was a very talented drummer! She was one of the drummers for a school marching girls’ team in Samoa.

She worked for the New Zealand Government at the Department of Statistics in Auckland before relocating to the United States. Ida worked at Autozone for over 20 years and held multiple 2nd jobs .

In 1981, she met and fell in love with Faleula Slade. They welcomed their first daughter, Doris, in 1983, their second daughter, Cassandra in 1984, and their 12lb baby boy, Spencer, in 1989. Their family has grown to include 7 grandchildren- Kitana, William, Cash, Legend, Brandon, Jazleen, Helix, and her fur baby, Hercules.

Later in life, Ida had a long and loving relationship with Naik Otine. They bonded over music, tattoos, and the love they shared for their families and for the lord. She cared for him until he passed in 2022.

Ida had the biggest heart, the warmest smile, and the most infectious laugh! To know her, was to love her. Her love transformed the lives of everyone she encountered. She was a private and quiet person, but also very witty and fun, our very own “ah-ah-ah-ah staying alive dancing queen”! There was something magnetic about her, you could not help but want to be around her. Her remarkable ability to connect and keep in touch with people, share herself, and evoke that same spirit of love in each person was her superpower. Her charismatic and caring nature transcended generations. She was beautiful, inside and out! While she loved everyone, her grandchildren were her heart and her world! To say she was a doting grandmother would be an understatement! She was their biggest cheerleader and supporter.

There is so much more that could be said about Ida, but in the end, she made our world brighter! She will be sorely missed and forever remembered!

To cherish her memories, she is survived by her son Spencer, daughters Doris and Cassandra, son in law William, grandchildren: Kitana, William (Yum-yum), Cash, Legend, Brandon, Jazleen, Helix, loving siblings, countless nieces and nephews, grand nephews, and friends and family around the globe.

A visitation for Ida will be held Friday, August 25, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Weaver Mortuary, 1177 Beaumont Ave, Beaumont, California 92223.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.weaver-mortuary.com for the Wendt family.