Wendy Sue Fleegal Cox

With broken hearts and a love that words could never fully express, we share the sudden passing of our beloved Wendy Sue Fleegal Cox, who tragically lost her life in an automobile accident on October 28, 2026, just two days after celebrating her 70th birthday.

Born on October 26, 1956, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Wendy was so much more than a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was the heart of our family, a source of comfort, a constant supporter, and the person who somehow always knew how to make everything feel a little better. She filled our lives with kindness, strength, generosity, faith, humor, love, and laughter.

Wendy had an incredible zest for life and a spirit that embraced adventure, creativity, and the simple joys of everyday moments. She loved skiing, horseback riding, fishing, boating, swimming, paddleboarding, and canoeing. She particularly enjoyed big-boat sailing, where she was a skilled mainsail trimmer and spinnaker launcher. Her love of sailing was something she shared with her husband of 13 years, Ron. The two spent their two-week honeymoon sailing the Chesapeake Bay, with only one requirement for going ashore: “a hot shower at least every three days.” It was the kind of adventure that perfectly reflected Wendy’s fun-loving spirit and willingness to embrace life.

Her creativity and talents extended far beyond the water. Wendy loved creative endeavors such as sewing, painting, and sketching, but she was just as comfortable tackling practical projects, whether that meant using a lug wrench or repairing a dock or deck. She was resourceful, capable, and never afraid to roll up her sleeves and figure something out. Whether she was creating something beautiful, enjoying the outdoors, or taking on a new challenge, Wendy found joy in the experience and in the people who shared it with her. But of all the things Wendy loved in this world, nothing meant more to her than her family.

Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joys, and the love she had for them was immeasurable. Wendy and Ron were lovingly known as Oma and Opa to their two beloved grandchildren, who brought tremendous happiness into their lives. Wendy treasured every moment spent with them and delighted in making memories they would carry forever. She was also eagerly anticipating the arrival of her third grandchild in April 2027. Although she will not be here to hold that precious baby in her arms, there is no doubt that this child was already deeply loved by her.

Wendy also held a special place in the hearts of her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, who absolutely adored her. She had a wonderful way of making each of them feel loved, valued, and important. Whether through family gatherings, holiday celebrations, shared laughter, or simply the time she took to show she cared, Wendy created meaningful connections with every generation of her family. Her love extended throughout her large family, and the memories they made together will be treasured always.

Wendy had a beautiful way of making life feel magical, especially during the holidays. She didn’t just celebrate special occasions; she made them unforgettable. She poured her heart into creating traditions, bringing everyone together, and making sure the people she loved felt special. It was the love she put into every little detail that made those moments so meaningful. She had a gift for turning ordinary days into extraordinary memories, and everything seemed a little brighter simply because she was there.

One of Wendy’s most remarkable qualities was her ability to make people feel genuinely seen and appreciated. She had a wonderful habit of approaching strangers or people she encountered while shopping or working and offering a sincere compliment about their smile, their outfit, or something else she noticed. The happiness she brought to their faces gave her just as much joy in return. It was such a simple gesture, yet it spoke volumes about who Wendy was. She never missed an opportunity to brighten someone’s day, even if she had only known them for a moment.

To those who loved her, Wendy was our safe place. She was the person we called when life felt overwhelming, when something went wrong, or when we simply needed someone to remind us that everything would be okay. She had an extraordinary ability to ease worries, lift spirits, and bring comfort during life’s most difficult moments. Her patience, calm presence, and reassuring words helped so many people through times of uncertainty, illness, and loss. Whether caring for loved ones facing medical challenges or helping family and friends through the final stages of life, Wendy offered a gentle strength that eased suffering and brought peace when it was needed most.

That same compassion and dedication carried through her professional life. Wendy earned her bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and her master’s degree in recreational therapy from the University of Maryland. She devoted her career to healthcare in Pennsylvania and Maryland, always placing the well-being, dignity, and comfort of others at the center of her work.

During her time at Calvert Memorial Hospital, now known as CalvertHealth Medical Center, Wendy helped initiate and secure funding for an infant CPR education program designed to give new parents lifesaving skills before taking their babies home. Rather than relying solely on written instructions, the program provided hands-on training and educational materials that families could use after leaving the hospital. The value of this training became especially clear when a mother credited the CPR instruction she received with helping her save her choking infant. Wendy’s determination to make this education available reflected her belief that even one thoughtful initiative could make an extraordinary difference in someone’s life.

Even in retirement, Wendy continued finding meaningful ways to help others. In recent years, she taught and certified members of local canine-assisted rescue groups in wilderness first aid and survival skills. Her willingness to share her knowledge, encourage others, and help people prepare for emergencies was yet another reflection of her lifelong commitment to service.

Wendy is survived by her loving husband, Ronald Cox; her children, Michael and Leah; her stepchildren, Summer, Austin, and Kristie; her brother, Ted Fleegal; her two precious grandchildren, to whom she was a beloved Oma; and her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, who loved and adored her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hilda and Leo Fleegal; her brothers, Terry and Tim Fleegal; and her sister by choice, Sheryl Webster.

As we try to imagine life without Wendy, it is difficult to put into words just how much we will miss her.

We will miss her voice, her laughter, her sense of humor, and the comfort of knowing she was always just a phone call away. We will miss sharing our good news with her, turning to her when things go wrong, and hearing her reassure us that everything will work out. We will miss the holidays she made so special, the adventures she embraced, the traditions she created, and the countless little things she did that meant more than she could ever have known.

We will miss her in the big moments, but perhaps even more in the small, everyday ones. The moments when something happens and our first instinct is to call her. The moments when we hear something funny and wish we could share it with her. The moments when we need her advice, her support, or simply one more conversation. While life will never feel the same without her, we know how incredibly fortunate we were to have been loved by someone like Wendy.

She gave us so much more than memories. She gave us traditions to carry on, lessons to live by, laughter to remember, and a kind of love that does not disappear simply because someone is no longer physically here. We will see pieces of her in the holidays we celebrate, the stories we tell, the paths we forge, the people we help, and the kindness we share with others.

We will make sure her grandchildren grow up knowing just how special their Oma was, how deeply she loved them, and how much happiness they brought into her life. And we will make sure the grandchild she was so excited to meet grows up knowing they were loved by their Oma long before they entered this world.

Wendy was truly one of a kind. She was outgoing, warm, adventurous, creative, compassionate, strong, and endlessly generous with her love. She could handle a sailboat, fix something that needed fixing, comfort someone through heartbreak, and make a complete stranger smile, all through the light of her remarkable spirit. She was our comfort, our laughter, our strength, and such a beautiful part of everything that made our family who we are.

We would give anything for one more conversation, one more laugh, one more holiday together, one more adventure on the water, or one more chance to tell her just how much she means to us. But until we meet again, we will carry her with us in everything we do. We will hold tightly to the memories, continue the traditions she loved, look after one another the way she always looked after us, and try to bring a little of her kindness and light into the world every day.

We love you, Wendy. More than words could ever say. Thank you for the love you gave us, the memories you made with us, the lives you touched, and for being the person we could always count on.

Wendy’s own words reflect the faith and peace with which she approached life:

“God is great and it is his will that no one gets out of this game alive. We should be blessed to be at peace with that journey.” — Wendy Sue Fleegal Cox

You will always be the heart of our family, and you will be loved and missed for the rest of our lives.