Wanda Hogya

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Wanda Irene (Ketron) Hogya, at the age of 88. Born on July 20 in Eaton, Ohio, Wanda’s loving spirit and selflessness touched the lives of many.

Despite being born with a weak heart that held her back physically while growing up, Wanda’s strength and determination were evident early in life. At the age of 18, her desire to have children was so deep that she walked into the Cleveland Clinic to request heart surgery and then became one of the first people to survive open-heart surgery. Wanda went on to have three beautiful daughters, six amazing grandchildren, and three precious great- grandchildren.

Wanda leaves behind her beloved husband Denis and their cherished daughters Denise (Charles) Hart, Barbara (Michael) Oglesbee, and Dawn (Robert) Forte-Gilgoff (Andrew), along with her adored grandchildren Eric (Caitlin) Hart, Shelby Gilgoff, Alex (Ryan) Marcus, Stephen (Niki) Hart, and Emily Gilgoff. She was also the treasured great-grandmother to Blaise, Winona, and Van.

In addition to her biological children, she had a loving hand in caring for her brothers-in-law Giles, Wes and Lynn. She and Denis were also privileged to include Imee and Veronica in their extended family. Wanda was preceded in death by her grandson Ian Michael Oglesbee, parents Garnett and Retha Ketron, brother Maynard Ketron, and sister Wilma Morcom.

She lived a full and well-lived life filled with marriage, family, and devotion to her Christian faith. A loving, caring, and generous person, Wanda treasured time spent with family and friends, whether traveling, enjoying time at their cottage on Elk Lake, or vacationing in Myrtle Beach. She was married for nearly 70 wonderful years to Denis Hogya, the love of her life, with whom she created a warm, nurturing home, known for her love of baking, (her black raspberry pie was a family favorite), and tending her garden, including countless rose bushes. She treasured moments spent babysitting her grandchildren when they were young, as trips to Disney and ice cream runs with the grandkids were especially cherished memories. Wanda also had a deep love for animals, particularly her many cats and her devoted Havanese companion, Sadie.

Wanda was known for brightening lives with her silly humor and infectious laugh. Her lively energy, smile and laughter filling every room. Even in her later years, as she struggled through multiple strokes and lung cancer, her zest for life remained, as her cheerfulness, optimism and adventurous spirit never wavered. She was known for her deep compassion for others, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her family, relatives, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to The Cancer Research Institute or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family would also like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the many caregivers (Vicki) who supported Wanda in her final years, including those at ComForCare, Christian Village at Mason and Gentiva Hospice, for their compassion and care during her final moments.

Wanda’s life was a testament to love, resilience, and joy, and her spirit will forever be cherished.