Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271170
Title: Vanessa E. Wilson
Date: 1/19/1980-4/17/2023
Inscription/Marks: 1/19/1980
Summary: Our loving Vanessa Ersella Wilson traded her wheels for wings to become our guardian angel on April 17, 2023, holding the hand of her second mom, Tanya, at CHI Mercy Health in Valley City, ND. A funeral service was held April 22, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kensal, ND. Her burial will be in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery at Kensal. Vanessa E. Wilson was born in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on January 19, 1980, to George and Ionie (Hendricks) Wilson. She lived her childhood years there until around the age of six when Hurricane Hugo hit the Caribbean. Her father brought her to the Anne Carlsen Center for Children for a life more suited to her health and happiness. As hard as it was for George to leave his daughter, he sought out special caretakers to give her the best attention. It was here that she was introduced to her best friend and ‘mother’, Tanya. The Sabinash family took her in and started traditions that lasted a lifetime. Vanessa spent most holidays and special events with family along with various others who treated her as one of their own. She lived and attended school at the Anne Carlsen Center for Children for 15 years. At the age of 21, she transitioned to the Open-Door Center at Group Home Five in Valley City. She enjoyed her work friends and housemates, specialty nights, baking, mini-vacations, and van rides. Vanessa had a big love for music and attended many concerts with various friends over the years. Her shopping habits didn’t go unnoticed as she was very generous to others, always wanting to pick out a special gift. As we all know, there were things that Vanessa couldn’t do. She couldn’t walk, or talk, many things others take for granted every day. When some people looked at her, that’s what they saw – the things she couldn’t do. Vanessa was persistent in showing the things she could do. She had a smile that could light up a room, a laugh that the whole room could hear, a squeeze or handhold that could show she cared, and a sign to show she understood. She also taught us how to be happy because she took joy in simple things – joy in seeing her friends and family, and joy in living life itself. Vanessa reminded us that most of our problems are not really problems, and to be grateful for what we have. She taught us the gift of unconditional love, loving even when it’s not easy, simply because you care. We believe that is the greatest triumph of any life, to love and to be loved. Her life wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t glamorous. Vanessa liked to add in her touch of glitz and glam wherever she could with her flawless complexion, beautiful smile, and bits of sass. Vanessa was our rainbow. When you look up to see the blue skies, remember that it is only because we have endured the storm that we are lucky enough to see a rainbow. Through the tough times, the adversity, and the challenges; she shone through with a special light. It’s not fair that she shone brightly only for a short time. Yet we can be assured that like the rainbow, she was a blessing from above. May we never forget this beautiful gift, and honor her memory every time we look up to the sky, look past the clouds, and see the rainbow. Vanessa is survived by her special family, Mike, Tanya and Taylor Sabinash, Kayla, Aaron, and Brynlee Rodin, Kolten, Danette and Stetson Sabinash; biological siblings; brothers, Jerord E. Wilson and Alvie James; sisters, Carolyn Misonge, Anita Wilson-Allen, and Euella Wilson-Richards. Vanessa also had an army of loved ones including many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews who loved her deeply. Vanessa was greeted in heaven by her parents, George and Ionie Wilson.
Red ID: FND_I_78657 Image ID: 557368 Image Notes: FND001 271170

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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