Walburga "Wally" Vando was born 02/02/65 in the town of Limbe, formerly known as "Victoria" in the South West Region of Cameroon – West Africa and grew up Bamenda -the NorthWest Region of Cameroon. Both of her parents worked as law enforcement officers(police) in the Cameroon Government, which was very instrumental in her upbringing.

She attended elementary catholic primary schools in both Victoria and then in Bamenda followed respectively by her secondary education at "Our Lady of Lourdes College" a renown and prestigious all-girls boarding school in Bamenda, the North West region of Cameroon. Wally as she was popularly know to all her friends and family, then pursued her high school education in GBHS-Nkambe. Upon successfully completing her high school education  Wally then traveled to Nigeria to further her studies at the University level but when "opportunity-knocked" in 1988, she traveled to the U.S.A  and settled in Queens County New York City.


Wally then continued to pursue her higher education when she was accepted to attend Rutgers University in New Jersey and embarked on a career in Nursing. Wally always explained that she chose a career in nursing because she likes to help people and wants to see people happy. If she can accomplish that goal  on a daily basis, then she would have succeeded in her life's pursuits.

In May 1996 Wally obtained her degree " Bachelors of Nursing  - BSN from Rutgers University New Jersey and then embarked on a prolific nursing career in New York City. She worked as a Registered nurse at Manhattan Psychiatric Center in NYC and then later on as an Operating Room Nurse at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in NYC for many years.

Wally then found the love of her life when she attended a social function in New Jersey, where she met quote "my dashing future husband"  Mr Charles Idonije a native of Nigeria. Within a year after meeting the "handsome Charles", Wally was married and moved in with her new husband to Elizabeth, New Jersey. All her friends and family were elated and very proud that Wally found the man of her dreams and wanted to build a family quickly.

In 2003 Wally and husband were blessed with the birth of bouncing twin baby girls named "Daniella and Gabriella". The birth of her twins gave her so much joy and finally her dream of starting a family had been fulfilled.Shortly thereafter Wally's immediate family members (her mother, brothers, sisters and cousins) began arriving to the USA to begin their own life pursuits as well as support and care for their sister "Manyi-Wally" and the beautiful babies.

Wally, husband and family later moved from New Jersey and settled in the state of Delaware and then she was blessed again with another child- which they named "Nathan". Soon thereafter Wally continued to pursue her nursing career as a registered nurse at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. Later on Wally was appointed Director of Residence Services at Millcroft Senior living Center - Five Star Full-Service Senior Care Community.

As Director, Wally was very instrumental in the development of her nursing staff in providing excellent quality care to the residents and in promoting wellness programs focused on enriching the residents’ lives. The sky being the limit, Wally then embarked on a Masters degree program at Wilmington University  in Delaware and completed her Masters In Nursing -MSN degree in May 2015, a testament to her employer, friends and co-workers that life is an ever learning process and one should never be satisfied with any level of achievement.

A string of awards and recognition(1) that Wally received over her career was a testament to her passion, drive, devotion, professionalism and above all her constant concern for others, professionally and otherwise. She leaves behind her mother, four children, husband and siblings.

Goodbye Dearest -- Wally,

“UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN”

1)
N.B. To watch the video of Wally's recognition and awards, go to "Gallery" page and click on video link.