Wendy Marie Hector

Wendy Marie Hector, age 49, passed away December 31, 2016 when her heart stopped. Her loved ones believe that she stepped through a door to another room, so to speak, and continues Life eternal with joy and freedom. Wendy joined her parents, Mark and Judy Hector, at age 9 by adoption along with her younger sister, Shannon. She attended New Market Elementary and Jefferson Middle School where she played basketball. She participated in band while in middle school and continued through her high school years at Jefferson County HS. She experienced a year abroad with the family in Ile-Ife, Nigeria in 1980-81 and graduated from JCHS in 1986. Wendy worked for 25 years in New Jersey, California, Washington State, Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin and Tennessee as a caregiver to the elderly and mentally handicapped, as an assistant dietary clerk at two hospitals, and as a cook at several different institutions. She helped out with kitchen and housekeeping duties at Cedars Camps in Missouri several summers. After the amputation of her right leg in 2011, she learned to walk again with a prosthesis and went on to graduate from the Tennessee Technology Center at Knoxville with a certificate in Office Administration in 2012. Wendy became a charter member of the Amputee Support Group of Knoxville (ASK), soared like an eagle on a zip line at Cedars Camps, and tried out scuba with Patricia Neal Innovative Recreation Cooperative (IRC) after her amputation. She was appointed to the Council on Disability Issues (CODI) for the City of Knoxville in July of 2014 and continued to serve until her illness and hospitalization in September until her passing. Her father, Mark, passed away a year ago and she is survived by her mother, Judy, sister, Shannon Stafford, brother-in-law, Chris Stafford and her beloved niece and nephews, Sage, Seth, and Aaron Stafford as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Family and friends celebrated her life by visiting her when she was in hospital and rehab. Online obituary may be viewed and condolences made at http://www.fieldenfuneralhome.com/ In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Knoxville where Wendy was a member and was in charge of the nursery, or to the Patricia Neal IRC (Fort Sanders Foundation), 280 Ft. Sanders West Blvd., Knoxville 37922. Interment will be private. Arrangements by Fielden Funeral Home in New Market.

Wendy Marie Hector

May 2, 1967 - December 31, 2016