Pamela Wessel

Pamela S. Wessel, 63, of the Cattail Creek Community, gently breathed her final breath on September 25th, 2022 after a brief illness.

Pam is the daughter of Arthur Wessel, and mother Margie (Parnel) Wessel—who was born in Pensacola, North Carolina. Pam's grandfather, William Parnel, ran the Commissary on Cattail during the logging era & then helped open The People's Bank—the first bank in Burnsville, NC.

Pam retired from the Ohio State University--Department of Optometry. Karla was Pam's favorite boss. They shared joyful adventures and quilted together with a club. Pam was an active and loud Buckeyes Fan—with a significant wardrobe of red clothes and accessories. She loved to accessorize! She will be remembered for “being colorful” – in personality and in all the colorful quilts she made, her wardrobe, her joy in colored glass, and especially the colored lights of Christmas throughout her house and yard all year.

Her home on North Fork was a dream-come-true for her and faithful companion--a merle-headed Great Dane--Nelson enjoying extensive mountain hikes; and the bonus of the

Cattail Community of bright and caring people. She joined the HOA, the Lady's Card Club and the Quilting Club,

Pam's love of music led her to Riverlife Country Store where she met her beloved friend Danny Hensley. Her spirit lives on in Danny – who made many sacrifices to be by her side with his support and humor through better and worse, and who treasures all the day-trips, dinners and movie nights with Nelson and Pam.

Her spirit lives on in her devoted friend David who she's known since their teen years. David tended to Pam in her Mountain home for a month. And David offered to bravely, lovingly, and openly accept her Nelson into his home and life. Pam often said she was a hard-headed woman in love with a merle-headed dane.

Pam's spirit walks alongside Fran now—who tended to Pam, her house, meals and laundry, and took Nelson on his long walks.

MarlaMae recognized a kindred spirit who shared fierce independence, vulnerability, and mortality. She reveled in Pam's humor and patiently tended to Pam's persistent physical needs, advocating for Pam, and staying with her in shared silence--a comforting presence to the end.

The past 30 years, Pam celebrated life with closest friends from Dominion Jr High School in Columbus, OH. Terri Fink (GA), Suzanne Patzer (Columbus, OH), Janien Severance
(Worthington, OH), and Pam had quarterly girls' get-togethers—and often went to Renaissance Festivals when it was Pam's turn to choose.

Pam will be lovingly remembered by her Cattail family and the Faculty and staff of OSU. She is survived by her Uncle Charles & Wife (Gastonia, NC), and cousins.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts, cards, gifts, good deeds, food, travel and visits. Pam always stayed busy—with people and projects—so including her in your lives meant a lot to her.

Thank you to Catawba Valley Medical Center—Oncology & Hematology. Gratitude to all of the kind spirits at The Greens (Hickory) with special appreciation to Coreen and Isaiah.

Sometime in Spring, we will gather and share “remember when” stories and share the joy and laughter of Pam's living—and probably share some wine.

Pam's wish is for women to care for themselves with regular check-ups. Memorial donations can be given to the Yancey County Humane Society, PO Box 106, Burnsville, NC 28714. Or just go home, clean out a closet, and donate to the Barkin Basement.

Pam--we will meet again one day.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.caringcremations.net.