Wendy Ellin (Werges) Leiter, born June 29, 1950, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, August 24, 2025, at her home in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Wendy was beloved by everyone lucky enough to know her. The quintessential caregiver, she was a constant source of support for her husband, her daughters, her grandchildren, and anyone she knew who needed it. All who knew her will remember her as a devoted mother and wife with a generous spirit and open heart.
She is survived by her husband, Richard, her daughters Maddie, Annie, and Becky, her brother, Richard, and six grandchildren (Harrison, Hank, Ellie, Sammy, Emily, and Richie). She is preceded in death by her daughter Emily.
Services will be at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service will immediately follow. Family and friends will be having an open house at Wendy and Richard’s home at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Connected Forever in Nebraska.
Memorial Contributions to: Donations | Connected Forever
There are no words that can truly capture the depth of love, gratitude, and admiration I feel for my mom. Her passing leaves a space in our lives that no one else could ever fill, but it also leaves behind a legacy of strength, compassion, and unwavering love that will guide us for the rest of our days.
My mom was the rock of our family. She held us together through every high and low, always steady, always present. When life got hard, she got stronger. She carried the weight of everyone’s burdens with grace, and somehow, she still managed to lift us all up. Her strength wasn’t loud or boastful—it was quiet, constant, and unshakable.
She was my biggest cheerleader, my safe place, and the first person I turned to with every joy and every heartbreak. Whether I needed encouragement, advice, or just someone to listen, she was always there. She believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Her faith in me gave me courage. Her love gave me direction.
But above all, my mom was selfless. She gave so much of herself to everyone around her without ever asking for anything in return. Her love knew no limits, her kindness no end. She was the kind of person who would drop everything for someone in need, who found joy in giving, and who lived her life putting others first.
Even though she’s no longer here physically, her presence is everywhere—in the lessons she taught me, in the strength she instilled in us, in the love that binds our family together. I will carry her in my heart forever.
Who am I going to call to share all of my challenges and successes? Who is going to be my support no matter what? How am I going to heal from this?
Thank you, Mom, for everything. For your love, your strength, your endless sacrifices. I hope you knew how deeply you were loved. I hope you knew how much you meant to us.
Rest peacefully, knowing that your love lives on in every one of us.
My husband and I are both transplants in Nebraska. Neither of us have family here. For many, that could have meant lonely holidays with no where to go except our own kitchen table with a sad setting for two.
But sometimes, life takes us to find our chosen family – people who step up to give us a sense of home even when we’re far from our places of origin. For us, that was the Leiters. Wendy is the embodiment of what “mother” means. She opened her home to us when we had nowhere else to go. She fed us, showed us love and allowed us to be a part of countless family gatherings and events. She was warm and loving – never allowing for us to feel alone or out of place.
In my friendship with her eldest daughter, I witnessed the best parts of Wendy. Her strength and grace made her children who they are – amazing and compassionate humans. The world is a better place because of her. I’m saw the genuine love shared between Wendy and her husband Richard – true partners in every sense of the word.
It is a blessing and a privilege to have been witness to such an extraordinarily wonderful woman. To have sat at her table and shared in fellowship when she opened her heart and family to us.
I could say that the world is a little darker without her light – and to a certain extent, that’s true. But I can also say the world is brighter, better and happier because Wendy left an indelible mark in the lives of her husband, children, grandchildren and all the lost souls she took under her wing.
There is only love.
My kind, funny, smart, beautiful Aunt Wendy is my example as a girl-mom, sister, woman…her inspiration will live in me forever. When we were growing up doing road trips from Minnesota to Florida every year, Wendy would have a special gift wrapped and labeled with each big city and/or state we went thru, and it made it the best trip because of her fun and generosity! She was always one I could talk to, about anything, and she truly cared and was filled with empathy. The sister she was to my mom and uncle dickie is inexplicable and precious- they were truly blessed because of her love in their lives. THANK YOU, God, for my aunt Wendy!!!! Now our angel, who I can’t wait to see again someday, never to be parted…💝😇