Wanda Pitts

Lena (Wanda) Pitts, born Vander Wiel, was a passionate woman of faith, kind, generous, fair, gracefully

bold, fierce, humble, was loved by everyone and loved without restraint. She was the first born American

in her family from Holland in 1931. Her father Wouter and uncle Johannes (John) came across the big

ocean into an unknown world in search of opportunity. They made it to Ohio where an aunt sponsored

them to be in the country. Soon after, her mother, Tryntje (Theresa) braved the open water with their two

young kids and Johns wife, and arrived in NY in July of 1920. They were all forced to change there names

to American names. The last name has been changed over the years, Van der Weil, Vander Weil and lastly

Vanderweil. Caterina, became Catherine, and Hendrik, became Henry. They took classes to learn English

and minimize their foreign accents. The adults reserved speaking Dutch only on Sunday gatherings after

church, away from the children’s ears so they could be as American as possible. She remembered getting

Windmill shaped cookies as a treat every Sunday.

Wouter, now Walter, built the family a nice home in Cleveland, where Wanda lived until the age of 9 or 10.

Her sister Catherine was diagnosed with severe arthristis and was told the dry dessert heat would help

ease her constant pain. The Vander Wiels packed up what little they could travel with once again, and

headed to Arizona. While passing through Albuquerque NM, Catherine became very sick and needed a

hospital. As she got treatment, they made their motor court rooms a home and never left NM. Wanda

made long term friends with the girls from other families who also called the same motor court home.

During the depression, to make ends meet, the Vander Wiels hosted short term foster kids, took in

laundry, and raised rabbits to be eaten only on Sundays. Walter, worked as a carpenter performing any

jobs available to him. Eventually, he was able to buy a small, old house in the North Valley that he

remodeled, which still remains in the family today.

Wanda graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1946. When her best friend Sharon met her soul

mate Leroy Wormington, he happened to have a handsome best friend, Elmer (Rodrick) Pitts. After a

rocky first impression, they were happily married in 1952 until Rods passing in 2004.

They bought the house on Hermosa when it was on the outskirts of Albuquerque and the desert could be

seen for miles from the back yard. She enjoyed keeping her house tidy and decorated and loved working

in the yard and in her gardens. Even after Grandpa built a shop that took half of the yard over, she made

what was left, a green paradise. They lived a beautiful life there. Over all the years of watching changes to

the neighborhood, she was counting down to be the last surviving original home owner on the block, and

she was!

They had four sons: Roderick, Bret, Bart and Brian. Roderick married Anna Pitts and had four children,

Heath (wife Kristina), Chad, Michelle, and Matt. After retiring from the military, he divorced and moved

back home, where Wanda and him chatted every morning over coffee, racing to solve the daily puzzles in

the paper. Roddy passed in 2018.

Second son, Bret married Kathy and have 2 children, Tiffany (married Danny with 2 kids, Juniper and

Maise), and Neil, (married Genny with 1 son, Wyatt). When Wanda suddenly needed more care in 2019,

Bret and Kathy were able to move in and provide the longterm care she needed, with the help from the

rest of the family.

At the age of 7, their third son Bart was tragically killed crossing the street. Rod and Wanda’s faith in God

stayed strong and pulled them through the grief.

The youngest son Brian (married to Dawn, divorced from Karen who have 3 kids, Keri, (married Chris and

have 1 daughter Rebekah), Mitchel, (married Celina with 2 kids Rayla and Korben), and Patrick, (married

to Tasha and have 2 kids, Jaxon and Xenon). Brain and Dawn have been there for Wanda for anything she

has needed or wanted, often bringing yummy meals and a great conversation.

Her grandkids helped enrich her life by showing up daily, calling often, sending adorable great-grandbaby

pictures, tending to her flower beds, running errands, taking her out, and always making sure she felt as

important as she was.

Since she outlived many of her close friends, with her loving nature, she took on the role of honorary

mother and Grandma to those families. “Grandma Wanda” had so much love to give.

Throughout her life, she had a close and loving relationship with her parents and siblings, who were at

least 10 years older then her. Her sister was a best friend and helped immeasurably with the boys and

was always singing and telling stories. She adored her brother and his wife Dorothy (Dotty) and their kids

were always fun to be around. She kept a long relationship over the phone with her niece Carole,

speaking almost monthly.

Wanda worked in Real Estate and retired a Cafeteria Manager at Zia Elementary School. She was a

dedicated member of Fellowship Christian Reformed Church for over 70 years where she developed an

extended family of friends she loved dearly. Her Thursdays and Sundays were spend in Church, Bible

study, and playing card games and scrabble with close friends for many years. She made friends at the

YMCA doing exercise classes weekly into her 80s. She was the number one investor in her sons, Bret and

Brian’s business, B&B Insulation. She dedicated what she could and always believed in them, determined

to watch them succeed. Her generous spirit also made donations to several charities that she believed

made a difference in world. She had so many dear friends and neighbors that made her life rich with

conversation, comfort and love. Through to her final days, she worked hard to stay healthy and strong,

mentally and physically, always pushing herself to get stronger, even when it hurt. She never lost her

sense of humor, cheery disposition or positive attitude, and her faith never faulted. She inspired us daily.

Wanda invested so much into her family and has been the rock for us all. She taught us to love deeply,

trust in God and that families stick together. Her teachings were proven successful as in her final years,

months, and days. We were there together as a family, to love and care as deeply for her, and to love and

support each other through it all. She spent nearly 95 years praying over us all. A woman with faith

beyond measure and love without boundaries or conditions, will be missed without surrender. With God’s

grace, we find comfort knowing she continues looking after us now from Heaven. We miss you so much

already Grandma but we will meet again!

Wanda will be laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe on July 14, 2026, snuggled next to her

husband Rod, a short distance from her son Roddy.

Her celebration of life will be held at Fellowship Christian Reformed church at 1:30 on July 14th in

Albuquerque, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, Wanda requested that donations be made to Fellowship

Church, intervarsity.org to support Rod Pauls work, or www.streetvision.org to support John Bolton’s work.