Wanda Mattes, age 87, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, aunt, passed away on February 22,2024 in Fresno, Ca after a brief illness. Wanda was born 1/8/37 to Oda Tackett and George Ross (both deceased) in Marinette, Arizona. She was the youngest with 5 older brothers (all deceased). The Ross family moved to Chowchilla, Ca, and she attended schools there. She credits her 3rd grade teacher who helped develop her love for reading. After high school, she moved to Fresno, Ca to attend college at Fresno State. While in college, she worked at Warners theater and met the love of her life, Joseph Mattes. They married 8/4/57 and were married for 66 years. She was the mother of 5 children (lost 2 beloved babies: Paul 1963; Edward 1967)

Lisa Garcia (Manuel); Kris Natali (Eric); Kevin mattes, Renee Kennedy (Jeff); Anne Rhodes (Jeff).

Wanda was a homemaker but went back to college in 1977 and earned a degree in journalism. She briefly worked for the Fresno Bee.

Wanda loved to sing and attend concerts. She started taking singing lessons and sang in St. Anthony's church and also with the catholic diocese in Fresno. She had a beautiful voice. She was also in a play "Fiddler on the Roof" in the 1990's.

She leaves 12 grieving grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Wanda loved to read and passed that love on to every generation. She sewed and crocheted too.