Hanlon, Wanda A. 1965-1985
Wanda lived in Budd Lake most of her life, attended Mt. Olive High School, and was the middle daughter of Anna and Terrance Hanlon. She was a member of the Junior Women's Auxiliary Musconetcong Post 278 Stanhope. Wanda was clearly very loved in this life as her friends came forward to memorialize her and ensure that she was included in the Garden.
Her friends said that Wanda was a free spirit who had an uncanny ability to shock and charm simultaneously. Together with her sisters, Paula and Tammy, as well as her best friend, Joseph Aspinall, there was absolutely nothing that Wanda thought she could not do. She was very artistic ad created detailed and elaborate drawings. She was equally poetic, often writing from the depths of a soul that struggled with everything ranging from existentialism and nihilism to the spiritual and ecclesiastical. Wanda dared to be herself and, therefore, was truly original. Wanda had a heart of gold; she was very empathic and was always willing to lend a hand to a friend I need. Wanda's single greatest joy in life was being a mother to her daughter, Melanie Ann Hanlon who was born when Wanda was just 16 years old. Wanda died three years later, at the age of 19 after a brief illness. She is missed immensely but the power of her personality an still be felt by those who knew and loved her.