Wanda McNamee

Wanda J. McNamee (Recascino), age 87 of Pompton Lakes and formerly of Wayne passed away peacefully on Monday, January 17, 2022. Momma was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many.

Wanda grew up in Hackensack and attended Hackensack and Ridgefield Park High School where she was a popular student and a varsity cheerleader. After high school, she went to work on Wall Street.

Wanda met her husband Ray in high school. They were introduced by mutual friends and they soon fell in love. After Ray successfully passed the ‘boyfriend interrogation’ by Wanda’s Sicilian family, she and Ray dated for a couple of years before getting married on November 7, 1953 at St. Francis RC Church in Ridgefield Park. Their honeymoon was enjoyed on the Marine Corp base where Ray was serving at Camp Lejeune. They first lived in Bergenfield and Dumont before moving to Wayne in 1977. In later years she lived in Pompton Lakes and Bloomingdale and had most recently been residing near her oldest son in Chandler, AZ.

During their early years of marriage, Wanda and Ray were blessed with four sons and a  daughter. Wanda settled into and embraced her role as a loving wife and mother. She eventually returned to the workforce taking a job working for her cousin Joe Vernieri at the former Lift-the-Latch Restaurant in Paramus. Her astute business skills eventually lead to becoming manager and overseeing all operations. Wanda became a business owner herself when she acquired Boodles Restaurant in River Edge. As the heart of the restaurant, she enjoyed a loyal following and made many lasting friendships with her customers.  

Wanda and Ray enjoyed more than sixty-two years in a devoted marriage until Ray’s passing in April, 2016. They loved to travel together and spent many weeks each year in St. Maarten. A highlight of Wanda’s life was going to Italy and meeting relatives from the Recascino side of her family who were still living in the old country.

Hands down the greatest love of Wanda’s life could be expressed in one word – family! Fondly known to many as “Momma” she was the greatest grandmother that her twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren could ever ask for. She and Ray loved having them visit. They taught them important life skills like playing cards and the proper way to bet while playing poker. Wanda herself was quite the card shark who frequented Atlantic City in her younger days. She loved sleepovers with her grandchildren too. She loved spoiling them and all of her family. Wanda was an amazing cook and some of her family’s favorite recipes included her delicious meatballs, zucchini quiche, linguini and clam sauce, and chicken soup. For years and years dinner was at Wanda and Ray’s house every Sunday and she always cooked extra food in case unexpected guests came calling. She hosted all the big holidays. Christmas Eve was her favorite because she loved having the family together! Wanda truly loved it with all her heart!

In Wanda’s presence, there was always love and good times. She was funny and loved to laugh. One of the most nurturing souls you could ever find, her warm personality was contagious and with Wanda came lots of hugs and smooches.

Wanda was predeceased by her beloved husband Ray. Surviving are her five children: Ray and wife Sherry of Scottsdale, AZ, Bill of Kansas City, MO, Tom and wife Julie of Fairfield, CT, John and wife Nilda of Justin, TX, and Mary and husband Bill Botbyl of Greentown, PA; twelve grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and her sister-in-law Mildred Recascino. She was predeceased by her brother Frank and his wife Ruth Recascino and her brother Tony Recascino.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Wanda’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memorial Processing
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105-9959
You can also donate online by clicking here (www.stjude.org)