Wendy Lynn Caban

Wendy Lynn Harris Caban, of Lamesa, Texas, passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2019. Memorial services will be held on Monday, February 11, 2019, at 3:00 P.M. at Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas, with Pastor Landon Coleman officiating. Wendy was born on November 14, 1965, to Elmer Harris and Kathleen Bassetti Harris in the small community of Middle Township, New Jersey. She attended kindergarten through eighth grades at Dennis Township Elementary and spent her high school years at Middle Township High school, graduating in 1984.As a young child, Wendy grew up on a New Jersey farm with all kinds of animals: chickens, goats, rabbits, and a milking cow. Her family lived off the land, gardening both for themselves and for additional income. Her father, Elmer, made a living as a commercial fisherman of shellfish and crabs. Wendy and her siblings were responsible for cleaning the crab pots and folding the fishing nets every night after her dad was done. By the end of Wendy’s childhood, she’d had her fill of seafood. However, her heritage sparked a lifelong love for country living.Wendy started 4-H as an elementary student and continued all through high school. She participated in many competitions, winning ribbons for crafting and the care of animals. As an adult, she continued to craft and had recently been taking steps to replicate the garden and country lifestyle of her childhood in her move to Lamesa. Although she was a good student, Wendy also had a wild side and enjoyed taking her ’64 Chevy Impala down the drag strip. She’d always boast about “beating the boys” in drag races when recounting these times to her family. She was the captain of both the “Rag Doll” basketball and softball teams in her high school and invested in younger students by coaching the local Tee Ball team as well. Due to her near perfect ASVAB score, the Navy tried to recruit her, but Wendy elected to pursue a career in nursing. She got a full scholarship through the Woodbine Developmental Center and graduated from Cape May County Vocational School in 1986 with her LPN. Wendy continued her career in nursing for the rest of her life, most recently working as an LPN for the penitentiary system In New Mexico.Although Wendy has an amazing resume, her greatest achievements in life were her two children, Anthony Caban, born in 1992, and Angela Caban, born in 1999. Wendy loved her family. She invested countless hours of time in her children, helping them to have the best-looking science projects in school, always offering to be room mom, and sometimes working multiple jobs to provide the life she wanted for her children. During Anthony’s kindergarten year, Wendy worked in the cafeteria of his Catholic elementary school so that she could afford to pay for him to go there.Family took precedence with Wendy. Even if she had to go without something to care for those she loved, she would do it in a heartbeat. Throughout her life, Wendy was known for her generosity. She often mailed care packages, cooked for friends and family, helped to care for her nieces and nephew, served in homeless shelters, and would frequently donate her O+ blood at blood drives. She exuded life and loved caring for people. While living in New Mexico, Wendy organized and paid for her son’s July 2018 wedding reception in New Jersey, crafting all of the decorations herself, packing a U-Haul, and driving cross-country so she could be there to make his day special.She is survived by her son, Army Specialist Anthony Caban, and wife, Chelsea Gonzalez Caban; daughter, Angela Caban; mother, Kathleen Bassetti Unruh; brother, Charles Harris, and wife, Joanne; sister, Kimberly Hernandez, and fiancée Harris; sister, Patricia Brown, and husband, Adrian; nephews, Charles, Jr., and John; niece, Megan; nephews Michael and “C.J.” (Christopher John); nieces, Cori and Aryanna; best friend, Sara Santacruz, several great nieces and nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Wendy is preceded in death by her father, Elmer Harris, her stepfather, Albert Unruh, and her grandmother, Marie Creamer.Wendy is dearly missed.Her children are setting up a fundraiser to offset the costs of funeral expenses. Those interested in contributing can contact Angela at 432-556-8468 or Chelsea at 856-803-0759.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.,