Wanda's Legacy: The Story of the Jungle Mural at Community Memorial Hospital

On the second floor of the Mountain Tower at Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura, in what was once the NICU and Labor & Delivery department, the hallway stirs with the rhythm of a busy workday. Community Memorial Hospital moved its patient care operations to the state-of-the-art Ocean Tower in 2018, but this floor of the old hospital building still fills a critical need, housing social workers, hospitalist physicians, respiratory therapy, and other ancillary services.

While the transition to the Community Memorial Hospital Ocean Tower was a major one for the community of Ventura, some cherished pieces of the old hospital were left behind. Amidst these is a mural filled with whimsical jungle animals that is carefully preserved in a well-traveled hallway on the old second floor.

One Friday afternoon, a gentleman named Jesse came to visit the mural. He carried with him the loving memory of his late wife, Wanda. Jesse had called ahead, sharing his wish to see the mural she painted years ago, a tribute to her imaginative spirit.

Wanda, who passed away five years ago from complications of Amyloidosis, was remembered by Jesse as a loving and generous soul. A talented artist, she volunteered her time in the early 2000s to brighten the hallways of Community Memorial Hospital for new parents and their babies. She poured her heart into this mural, transforming the walls outside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit into a jungle scene filled with elephants, playful monkeys, hippos, and giraffes — a gift of joy for families during a tender time.

Word of Jesse’s visit spread, and several long-time hospital team members, including Megan Rodarte and Deb Hill from Maternal Child Health, came to meet him. They remembered Wanda vividly.

"She was so dedicated," Deb recalled. "It was a labor of love for her. She would come in after her regular work hours at the school district, and even on weekends, to add details and touch up the mural. She truly poured her heart into it."

Jesse recalls the stories that Wanda shared when she’d come home after a day of painting. "As time went on," he said, "Wanda met the parents of two babies who didn’t survive. She asked their permission to add the babies’ names to the wings of butterflies on the mural. The butterflies became a symbol of remembrance. If you look closely, you can see those tiny names nestled within the wings."

"Wanda also included the names of two beloved employees who had passed away, honoring their memory within the mural," Added Deb.

Jesse spent a long time in the hallway, tracing the outlines of the animals and gently touching the faded paint. He shared photos from Wanda’s personal album, revealing her process and passion for painting.

These lasting memories in the halls of the old Community Memorial Hospital serve as a powerful connection between our past & present, reminding us of the profound impact our hospital has had on the community we serve. We are grateful for Jesse’s visit, and for the reminder that healing comes in many unique and beautiful forms.