Mary Wanda Lee "Wanda" Gaffey

GAFFEY, PRESSLY, PHILLIPS, STEWARD

Posted By: Lisa M. Ciha (email)
Date: 12/7/2012 at 10:53:07

Iowa City Press Citizen

Mary Wanda Lee “Wanda” Gaffey, 69, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2012, at Mercy Hospital Hospice in Iowa City after a short illness with breast cancer.

Memorial Services will begin at 3:00 p.m, on Sunday, December 9, 2012, where visitation will be held one hour prior to and following the memorial service. Private family inurnment will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Memorial donations can be made in her memory to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com.

Wanda was born May 26, 1943; daughter of Leo and Violet (Pressly) Gaffey in Iowa City, Iowa. After graduating from Iowa City High School in 1961, she worked at Paris Dry Cleaners. She then went on to work most her life at Varsity Cleaners from which she recently retired.

Wanda was a very loyal Hawkeye fan, especially enjoying their football games. She and her friend Linda often watched them on Linda’s big screen TV. Her other ‘football’ love was the Kansas City Chiefs, but she loved almost any sport. She was very proud of the fact that she lived in her home for over sixty-one years, enjoying all the peonies, irises and especially the lilacs that bloomed every year. She often enjoyed attending family functions with her “33rd” Gaffey cousins on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. She also enjoyed going to celebrations in Holbrook, Iowa, the home of her paternal ancestors.

Wanda enjoyed animals and shared “ownership” of her cat “Gracie” with her good friend Linda. She was well known throughout the neighborhood as she walked with Linda’s dogs.

Wanda is survived by her brother Leo Wayne Gaffey, Jr.; two nieces, Tiffany Phillips and Jennifer Steward; and grandnieces. She was preceded in death by her father, Leo, in 1999 and her mother, Violet, in 2003.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City is caring for Wanda’s family and her services.