Wanda Antonina Haarlander

Wanda Antonina Haarlander (nee Paradysz), of Collingswood, NJ, age 98, peacefully passed away on January 14, 2026, leaving behind a legacy defined by resilience, creativity, and a deep devotion to her family. 

Born on April 23, 1927 in Korczyna, Poland, she was the daughter of the late Jozef (Joseph) Paradysz and Maria (Mary) Szklarska. Wanda and her parents immigrated to the United States in February of 1930, during the great depression when she was 3, along with her younger sister, Laura. Upon arrival in the U.S., the entire family lived and slept in one room of a relative’s home located in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. They spoke no English. Soon after arriving in the U.S., her siblings, Stella and Casimir (Caz), were born. Joseph and Mary worked hard to support their family as jobs during the great depression were hard to find. Joseph found whatever manual labor he could and Mary sewed dresses for 25 cents. Wanda always looked favorably upon these years and never complained, as she recalled all of the love and devotion that surrounded her family.

While working at the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a colleague introduced her to the love of her life, Frank Edward Haarlander. They were married on January 18, 1947. They lived in Barrington NJ for a few years before they moved to Collingswood, NJ, where they would spend the next several decades building their life and family. Wanda was known for her iron-clad memory and could vividly recall the White Star ocean liner that took her family from London to the U.S., the names of every child in her kindergarten class at St. John Cansius Parish, and the words to the Polish songs her father sang to her and her siblings.

Wanda enjoyed taking daily walks down Conard Avenue to Newton Creek and walking around the lake two or three times to enjoy nature. In addition to her interests in drawing, reading, and sewing, she loved to garden. She enjoyed spending countless hours in her gardens, and was so glad that her granddaughter, Lisa, shared that passion. Wanda possessed a rare patience for growing things, famously tending to plants on her porch shelves and even on the stairs of her basement. Whether she was nursing a struggling plant back to health or starting something new from seed, her touch brought life to everything she tended. Although in recent years, Wanda was unable to tend to her gardening, she enjoyed looking out her kitchen window to view her shrubs, trees and plants in her backyard and to tend to her indoor plants.

Wanda, a graduate of the Fleisher Sewing School, was a woman of remarkable talents. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her grandchildren and their dolls. She took pride in her job as a teacher’s aide in Collingswood making the classroom a place of magic. She particularly enjoyed creating arts and crafts projects for the students. She could transform simple craft supplies into objects of genuine beauty. These handmade treasures remain among the most cherished possessions of her grandchildren.

She was very proud to see her three granddaughters, Lisa, Jennifer, and Carolyn, graduate from college and pursue careers of their own. It was as if they were fulfilling her dreams. Wanda was devoted to her family, who brought her immense joy, especially seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At 98 years old, she outlived most of her friends. She greatly appreciated hearing from her neighbors and relatives who called upon her to see how she was doing.

Wanda was the beloved wife of the late Frank Edward Haarlander, a navy veteran, who passed away in 2015 and with whom she shared almost 68 years of marriage. She was predeceased by her younger siblings, Laura Paradsysz, Stella Paradysz, and Casimir Paradysz. She is survived by her children, Frank Haarlander (Sharon) and Wanda P. Busa (Stephen); her grandchildren, Lisa L. Shumaker (Mark), F. Bryan Haarlander (Tara), Jennifer D. Brown (Philip), and Carolyn S. Busa; and her adoring great grandchildren, Jacob F. Haarlander, Rachel T. Haarlander, Jennifer G. Shumaker, and David R. Shumaker.

Wanda has requested that there be no service. Her interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery where she will rest alongside her husband, Frank.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org, would be appreciated.

She will be greatly missed, but her memory and spirit will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.