Wendy Bibbings: What Happened To Darryl Sittler’s First Wife?

Who Is Darryl Sittler’s First Wife, Wendy?

Wendy Bibbings was a celebrity spouse. She used to be the wife of Darryl Glen Sittler, a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Wendy’s husband Darryl Sittler has captured the hearts of several hockey lovers. He was named one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in history (2017). He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.

Wendy Bibbings: Bio Summary

Wendy Bibbings was the wife of Darryl Sittler until she passed away. She was born on 2 July 1948, in London, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada, and was named Wendy Louise Bibbings. Wendy Bibbings is the daughter of Fred Bibbings and Eve Bibbings. She was married to Darryl Sittler from 1971 until she died in 2001. It was after the death of Wendy that Darryl married Luba Sittler.

However, three children were produced out of Wendy Bibbings and Darryl Sittler’s marriage. Two of their children followed in their father’s footsteps into the world of sports. Their son Ryan Sittler (b. January 28, 1974) is a former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the American Hockey League (AHL). Ryan Sittler is the Director of Youth Hockey at Palm Beach Ice Works.

Their daughter Meaghan Sittler (born March 12, 1976) is a former ice hockey player for the Colby College White Mules women’s ice hockey program and the Brampton Thunder of the NWHL. Meaghan works as a professional Life Coach; with a Master’s degree in Social Work, along with training in Life Coaching, Energy Healing/ Energy Science, Reiki, and experience as an Elite Athlete, she uses many tools to help her clients, per her father’s website.

Darryl Sittler’s First Wife Wendy Was Diagnosed With Cancer

Wendy Bibbings was diagnosed with cancer and had to battle it for some time. She had a recurrence of the cancer that first developed in her colon years ago. According to a source, the Doctors found two spots on Wendy’s liver. “We’re going to start chemotherapy treatments and hope the cancer can be stalled,” her then-husband Darryl Sittler told the National Post.

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“I suppose we’re looking for a miracle, but Wendy has been very strong throughout this ordeal. She’s accepted her situation and has talked to each of our children, individually, to make sure they carry on with their dreams and pursuits. It’s obviously a very tough time right now.”

What Happened To Wendy Bibbings?

Darryl Sittler’s late wife, Wendy Bibbings lost her life to cancer. She died on 6 October 2001, in East Amherst, Erie County, New York, USA, at age 53. She is said to have died from colon cancer. At the time her husband Darryl Sittler’s No. 27 was to be honored, the ceremony was delayed because Wendy was suffering and unwell, per a source.

On February 8, 2003, the Leafs honored Darryl Sittler by adding a banner with his number 27 to those already hanging in the Air Canada Centre for other Leafs’ greats. Wendy had passed away and her husband Darryl paid tribute to her along with his three grown children at his side. “I know that her big warm, beautiful smile is shining down on us,” he said.

“I’m honoured that you are here to share this with me and my family”. Darryl mentioned that not only his name but also that of his late wife, Wendy, was going to be enshrined in banner form for all-time. Speaking of the day his wife died Darryl said:

“It was Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. It was Oct. 6, 2001. It was a Saturday afternoon. And we had brought her from hospice to the house? she wanted to live her last few days, hours, at the house. So we didn’t know how long she was going to last. But she was there.

“And we were sitting, laying beside her ? my three kids and myself in her room. And I went and I put that song on, that Michael Burgess song, ‘I Love You Forever.’ It started to play and I came back and Wendy took a couple breaths and that’s how she passed away. And that song continued to play.

“It was very emotional but it was … so peaceful. Nice, kind of how it all ended…. You don’t know how the final ending is going to be, whether it’s going to be violent. You don’t know. And I was always thinking about that: How is the final ending going to be with Wendy?

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“Well, it ended up being this beautiful, peaceful way with Michael Burgess’s song, playing the song that she loved most.”

Darryl is very supportive of several charities including Colon Cancer Canada in honor of his late wife Wendy. He is also a Founding Co-Chair for ‘Have a Heart for Downs Syndrome’ (HHDS) a charitable, non-profit foundation whose mission is to create opportunities in education, training, employment, and housing initiatives in our communities so that all people with Down syndrome can live full and happy lives.