Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Wendy Denelle Schilling-Guerassio passed away unexpectedly on June 27, 2018, in Portland, Ore. She was 45 years old.
Wendy was born Aug. 25, 1972, to Don and Brenda Schilling in Phoenix, Ariz. She was the beloved baby sister to her siblings Dawn and Brody. A gifted athlete even as a child, Wendy began playing soccer in elementary school and developed a life-long love for the sport. She also was a member of her high school dance company.
After high school, Wendy moved to Hood River, Ore., where she met her husband, James Guerassio, while they were both working at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort. They eventually settled in Portland and had three children: Nicholas, Jaden and Tristan.
Wendy played soccer for many years with a women’s league in Portland, most recently playing goalie for her team. She was also a devoted fan of the Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns.
Despite her competitive nature in sports, Wendy was an easy-going daughter, sister and friend to many. Anyone lucky enough to know her quickly discovered a universal truth about Wendy: She had no enemies, only friends. No one loved kids, old dogs, old cats and old people as much as Wendy loved them. She could laugh at just about anything — and did. She never sought to be in the limelight, but she loved to watch and encourage others when they were in it. She was ever-present at her kids’ games, concerts and activities, and was a very loud encourager. She loved to see people succeed.
In recent years, Wendy began working as a caregiver at an assisted living facility. Staff members appreciated her singular compassion as a caregiver but also felt that she would make a good administrator. Wendy took their encouragement to heart and pursued courses to earn her administrator’s license, which she received the day before her death. At the time of her passing, she was working as memory care coordinator at The Springs at Wilsonville, where she will be greatly missed by both staff and residents.
Wendy is survived by her husband, James; sons Nicholas (24) and Tristan (16), and daughter, Jaden (18); mother, Brenda Hering and step-father, Doug Hering; father, Don Schilling and step-mother, Marla Schilling; father- and mother-in-law, Bob and Angela Guerassio; brother, Brody Schilling; sisters Dawn Schilling-Rankin and McKenna Hering; her three dogs, Oliver, Luna and Kaia; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life for Wendy will be held on Sunday, July 8 at 11 a.m. at Hood River’s Riverside Community Church, followed by a gathering at her brother’s house at 4175 Summit View Drive.
A GoFundMe account has been set up in Wendy’s name to help with health care, education and living expenses for her children.
To plant a tree in memory of Wendy Schilling-Guerassio as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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