November 14, 2024

Wanda’s Way of Giving Back

An Estate Gift of Nearly One Million Dollars Supports Two Kidney Care Programs at St. Joe’s

Wanda Marie Jakubowicz was born with polycystic kidney disease, a genetically inherited condition that causes clusters of cysts to develop on the kidneys, gradually making them lose their ability to function. For the last twenty years of Wanda’s life, she was a patient of the nephrology (kidney) program at St. Joe’s. There, she underwent regular dialysis treatments and received a kidney transplant, too. Through all of it, Wanda was grateful to her loving husband Joe who accompanied her to her many appointments, surgeries, and treatments.

Being high school sweethearts, the couple saw each other through nearly every phase of life. Shortly after their marriage, Wanda and Joe opted not to have children of their own to avoid passing along the genetic kidney disorder that both Wanda and her brother had inherited from their mother. Instead, the couple poured their love and affection into caring for their beloved pets: Coco, Benji, Bob, and Pumpkin. In addition to their fondness for furry family members, Wanda and Joe shared a love of warm weather and sunshine. As snowbirds do, Wanda and Joe travelled south during the cold Canadian winters to enjoy life on the beach. During the summers, they would return to their Hamilton home and spend time by the pool with their lifelong best friends, Tim and Lisa Poleck.

After 39 years together, while it was Wanda who had battled kidney disease for most of her life, it was Joe who sadly passed away first in 2017 following a brave battle with cancer. “Wanda did her best to stay positive during her final few years without Joe, but we know she missed him dearly,” shares Tim. “She didn’t have any other immediate family left by that time, so her sister-in-law Barb, as well as Lisa and I, visited her frequently to keep her company and bring her some homemade meals.”

Four years later, on July 18, 2021, Wanda passed away at home at the age of 66. But she and Joe had one more selfless act in store. In her Will, Wanda left an estate gift of $949,000 earmarked to support two key areas of kidney care at St. Joe’s. Half of the donation amount will support the hemodialysis program which provides over 75,000 treatments annually to people living with kidney disease. The remaining half of the donation has been allocated to the Kidney Transplant Unit which performs over 150 kidney transplants each year.

“Both units provided exceptional care to Wanda over the years. I think her estate gift was Wanda’s way of giving back to the Hospital that had given her the gift of so many good years with her husband, Joe,” says Tim.

A recognition plaque to honour Wanda and her gift now resides within the Nephrology & Renal Transplant Unit on level 7 of the Juravinski Innovation Tower at St. Joe’s Charlton Campus.

---

It’s never too early to start planning your legacy.

Leaving a legacy gift is a personal decision, one that speaks to your values and desire to give back to the causes and organizations that mean so much to you, your family, and your community. If you let us know about your future gift to St. Joe’s, we can help ensure your wishes will be honoured and share ways we can recognize your gift. We’re here to listen and to help.

For more information, contact Lisa Gonnering, Manager, Estate & Gift Planning at lisa@stjoesfoundation.ca