Wende B. Taylor

Wende Bennett Taylor, wife, mother, grandmother, lover of dogs and sly humor, chose Wednesday, April 26, 2017 to set out in search of old friends and new adventures in the next world. Self-deprecating to a fault, her oft expressed desire for her entire obituary to read, “Gone!” has been reluctantly vetoed by her family. Born 86 years ago in Buffalo, NY to Elbert and Louise Bennett, Wende was an only child, but throughout life looked upon cousins Alan, Dan and Peter McCarthy as the next best thing to siblings. After graduating from Buffalo Seminary and Briarcliff Junior College, she spent a number of years working in Manhattan, Boston, and San Francisco, and traveling through Europe. After a sometimes long-distance courtship, she returned to Buffalo to marry John C. ‘Jack’ Taylor in 1958. After landing in West Hartford, CT with her husband and two children in the mid-1960s, Wende began helping out at St. John’s Episcopal church and Renbrook School, then expanded her volunteer work, becoming a mainstay at the West Hartford Woman’s Exchange for many years. Later she added work in West Hartford retail and insurance agencies to her repertoire. Wende loved her family and friends, and she loved to travel. She was happiest when those things could be combined. She had particular fondness for two special places: her grandparents’ Peppermint Farm home in Millgrove, NY, and her parents’ summer home on Bay Beach, in Ft. Erie, Ontario. Dogs also held a special place in her heart, especially Sherman, her English Setter/St.Bernard mix, who rarely strayed from her side during her early years in West Hartford. Wende is survived by her husband, Jack; her daughter Wende Taylor Wheeler of Longmeadow, MA, and her son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Stefanie Wilder Taylor of Encino, CA; and her grandchildren Annie and Ben Wheeler, and Elby, Sadie and Matty Taylor. A lengthy fight with Alzheimer’s was eased considerably by the skill and kindness of many, especially James Manugas and the staff at The McAuley; Andrea Taylor; Heather Lilly and the staff at Hamilton Heights; and Richard McKee and the staff of Hughes Health and Rehab. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, May 25 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Connecticut, 200 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4B, Southington CT (http://www.alz.org/ct/) or The Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111 http://www.cthumane.org. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com