Vanda Malisauskaite Simanavicius Obituary (1922

Vanda Malisauskaite Simanavicius was born in Kupreliskis, Lithuania on 15 April 1922, the only daughter of Povilas Malisauskas and Adolfina Janilionyte. She was born at home with the assistance of a midwife, and she was named after her mother’s best friend. Vanda’s father was a professional baker who was schooled in Latvia, and her parents owned and ran a store and bakery all during Vanda’s youth. They lived in the same building as their business, and Vanda would often go into the store and get candy. She loved chocolate the best, and it continued to be her favorite treat all throughout her life. By the time she was 12 she had learned to run the store and serve customers. At age 17 she met Vincas Simanavicius who was ten years older than she, and they were married in 1940. Their life plans were dramatically changed when the war began and it was necessary to leave Lithuania. They escaped with wagons and horses and ended up in a displaced persons camp in Germany where they lived for six years. It was a time of great hardship for her. She rejoiced upon arriving in the USA and seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. She stayed at Ellis Island briefly before being allowed to join other family members in Chicago, Illinois. After coming to the USA, Vanda worked in factories in Chicago for years, and it was there that she learned to speak English. She eventually learned to become a statistical analyst and she worked for the Sears Corporation for 18 years before she retired. She and her husband Vincas moved to Arkansas for their retirement years, and they had an active social life with many Lithuanian friends during that time. Years later she and Vincas moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be close to two of their three daughters and grandchildren. Vanda was a hard-working, brave, and energetic woman who enjoyed laughing with others. She had a strong faith in God and was true to the teachings of the Catholic Church, of which she was a member. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Vladas, her husband Vincas, and her daughter Egle. She is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.