I was lucky enough to meet Cal'Yonda because of my oldest son continuously breaking his glasses. She always greeted people with a smile. The day I learned she passed away, I couldn't believe it. It couldn't be her... Her co-workers at WalMart had a memorial picture of her. Every time I walk into WalMart and go nearby the vision center, I expect to see her, her smiling face, her warm greeting. (I still remember she chastised me when I was going to clean my glasses with my shirt...I will cherish that memory forever.)

To her family, my very belated condolences for the loss of your loved one. She was a special person and I miss her.

RIP my friend, Cal'Yonda.

Teri

so sorry to hear about cal...she was a neighbor of mine when she lived at townhouses in coralville and she was just so nice and especially so sweet to my daughter each and every time we saw her...loved stopping in to walmart and chatting with her.....i will pray for your family....Patty

I am very sorry to hear of Calyonda's passing. She was always such a sweet soul. Her infectious laughter was always a treat.I always looked forward to stopping and chatting to her when I was at Walmart and she was there. May you her family know that she will live on in all of our hearts and memories. Be proud of the great impressions that she has left on this world. She will be sorely missed.

We are so sorry for your loss. Your whole family is in our prayers. We met Calyonda at Walmart in the Vision Center, she was always so helpful and we always enjoyed having her help us. May Jesus surround your family is a huge hug that doesn't let go in Jesus name. Amen.

Calyonda, you are so loved and you will be greatly missed. God took you too soon for us, but just right on time for Him.

I pray your family will feel God's comfort today.

I hope that Cal's family knows how loved and missed she is.

I know you are in a better place

But I miss looking at your face

You were so young to die

When I found out all I could do is cry

Wondering why does it have to be this way

It hurts so much because there's nothing I can do or say

That can bring you back this way

There is one thing that's plain to see

That one day we will be together again

And now until then you will always remain my Friend

I remeber the last conversation we had, you always made me smile, you were definately a good person, I looked at you like a mother not realizing that we were only a few years apart. I thank you for all the encouraging words you have given me in the past. I thank God that I was apart of your Earthly Life. You are missed by me and my Mother.....She always called you her eyeglass friend....R.I.H Cal

I met Rovon before he introduced us to Cal. A loving couple and family. They were destined to do and be sometime big in life. Rovon was and is a hard charging grunt, and Cal is a sweet, very wise, motivated lady. the to could have taken the world by storm.......

I met Rovon working overnites at Walmart. Got to know Calyonda thru Rovon. Took an instant liking to her. She was so bubbly and friendly you couldn't help smiling around her. You could see there was so much love between Rovon and Calyonda. I remember when Rovon asked me to make a special valentines cake for her in 1995,one big heart for her and two smaller ones with Rovon's name on one and Cianca's on the other.and a big red bow to connect them all! Soo sweet! She will be missed. I am so sorry for your loss Rovon and Cianca you are in my thoughts.

I met Calyonda when our daughters were in kindergarten and I was Cianca's girl scout leader. She and Paige were friends until we moved away. I always enjoyed spending time with Cal. She treated everyone like we were her best friends:) RIP Beautiful lady...

Words escape me, however, the one word that lingers is GRATEFUL. I am grateful that God put you in my path. I am grateful that you loved my baby Jaimie. Grateful for the words of wisdom you gave me. Grateful for the laughs that we had. Grateful you had a positive impact in my life and so many others. Rest in Peace my dear friend.

We were shocked and saddened to hear of Cal's passing. I had the joy of working with Cal at the Coralville Wal-Mart vision center for a little over a year. I loved her smiles and laughter, warmth and kindness and her sweet spirit and song. She was fun to be with and will be missed dearly. Our hearts reach out to her family and friends.

To the Heller family, You have my deepest sympathy. Calyonda was a very sweet person, always the same. I will always remember her smile & her laughter. For I know this is a difficult time right, my prayers are with you & I will continue to pray for your strength. She was truely an angel... Flint Northwestern c/o 92...

Leave a condolence or a memory.

I was introduced to "Sweet Cal" by my mom whom she worked with at walmart, she was my mom's bingo buddy and close friend. When I heard the sad news of Cal's passing, I was literally floored, so outdone. I grew to really love her like a sister, I could always count on a smile and a really good laugh with Cal. She was one of the sweetest women, always very helpful, leading you in the right direction. I am truly sorry for the loss, your loss and my heart and prayers will stay with your family. I truly loved this Lady, "Sweet Cal".

I know Cal from way back when our children went to Kirkwood Elementary School together in Coralville. I enjoyed getting to know her and Rovon when we lived two doors down in Coralville. Through the years, as our children grew up and went to West High, I would see her working or in the area. She was a devoted mother and wife and a child of God. Her spirit was bigger than she was and she never had a negative thing to say about anyone. Her amazing daughter Cianca has that same bright spirit and cheerful attitude. Cal was definitely an angel who just resided here on earth temporarily. I was blessed to have known her.

I fondly recall Cal as a student in several of my classes in therapeutic recreation. She was serious about her new profession and it showed in her work. She was especially good at working with patients and persons with disabilities, both in her volunteer efforts, her internship and in service learning projects in her classes. Her passing is a terrible loss to the field of therapeutic recreation and to the patients she might have served. I was never prouder to award a certificate of completion and the UI-TR pin to a student than her at our convocation ceremony. She will be missed.

My dearest Cal-Cal. You have been so many things to me and the kids but most of all you were my dearest and best friend in the whole world. I know you had so many people in your life and so many friends and extended families and social groups, but you always found time to share with this quiet little homebody. I could always be myself and you never judged me, and that meant more to me than you know. I I am so blessed to have had you in my life and for all the memories you have left with me. I never got to thank you enough for all the times you were there for me when I had no one else. You knew me so well and there was no obstacle or challenge that kept us from finding something to smile about. Thank you so much for loving my kids and taking such good care of them, as I know we can be a handful, but there was no one else I trusted more to take them on. You never thought twice about giving up your time to be there for us, even giving up your christmas with your own family to be there for mine when Tegan was born. You never missed a birthday and you supported me on my wedding day even though it was not the dream I had hoped for. I could always count on you to be excited for me if I had good news, and be the ear that let me vent when I was down. You never imposed advice, but only offered support and encouragement, and you were on my side no matter how I flip flopped. You were such a beautiful person and made me see so many times that there is always a bright side. Im still searching for the bright side here, but I have to believe that you will help me find it. You always spread yourself so thin with work and school, still finding time for family and friends, and there were never enough hours in the day for sleep and laundry or squeezing in a perm. I am so amazed at all you accomplished, and so proud of your degree that you worked soooooo long and hard to achieve! I know 5 minutes late to work on a regular basis would stress you out, but everyone knew they could count on you to be there. You were all things to all people, and now you can truely be everywhere at once. I wont be able to pick up the phone and call you, or should I say, now I wont have to pick up the phone, because I already know you are with me and always will be right here in my heart. You were a sister to me... I will miss you so much, and life will never be the same without you, but I am blessed to have had the priviledge to know you and love you and have such a dear friend. Rest in Peace my dear sweet Cal Cal. Love U!!! Laurie

My deepest condolences go out to you. It was a joy to be around Cal & her laugh would light up the room. I am pleased that I got to meet such a wonderful person. She will always be in my heart.

What a wonderful day it was to see this lady when I shopped at WalMart over the years. She always had a lovely personable smile and loving sweet attitude. What a great loss for her family. I am so sorry to hear of her passing.

I knew Cal'Yonda from the Vision Center at Walmart and I always hoped she would be working when I came in to get my glasses adjusted. She was always so kind and happy to help me out. I had no idea I knew her much better than what I thought I did. We met briefly and Ro introduced us to one another while passing by at Walmart. I worked with Ro many years and loved all his jokes and stories, but when he spoke of 'Cal' he spoke with love, compassion and sincerity. I did not know her personally but knew from all the wonderful things Ro spoke of that she was a warm, gentle, caring and loving woman. Her presence on earth will be missed, but may it carry on through those lives she so greatly touched. My thoughts and prayers to Ro, Cianca and family. May the Lord send Holy Spirit and Comforter to surround you all.

R.I.Paradise my sweet, funny and caring friend. Though we lost touch over the years, I will always cherish our Iowa memories. My condolences to Cianca, Rovon, your family and many friends. You are loved and missed.

So sorry for your loss. I worked with Calyonda for a couple years at Wal-Mart and she would light up the room when you had a conversation with her. She is going to be missed.

Good bye for now, LOVE you and will MISS you so much babe :-( till we meet again.. Prays and love go out to your family from Daryl and Tom

My memory of CalYonda will always be her big smile and her positive attitude about life! I remember during set up of the Coralville W-M, Cal was the one who always did the W-M cheer. She did it with spirit and yelled louder than the hundred of other associates who were present. She would always say hello to everyone and would help anyone who needed help.

My thoughts and prayers are with Cal's family and friends!!

Everyone she touched from her W-M family will never forget our CalYonda!!

I first met Cal when our children started kindergarten. We would giggle the way Ro would walk Cianca to her classroom....she had daddy wrapped around her finger. A few years later we were part of the original bunch that opened the Coralville Walmart She always had such a honest smile every time she saw someone she knew. Such a very sweet and kind person, that I feel blessed to have become one of her friends. I will miss your smile. :( My heart is heavy with sadness for her family. I know the folks at Walmart will feel a huge loss. God Bless.

I have so many wonderful memories of Cal. I use to work for her in the photo lab at Walmart. She was always smiling, always nice and the best supervisor one could ask for. Later, I would see her working at WalMart's Vision Center, she still had the same great smile. Cal, I am going to truly miss you.

My best memory of Cal was in 2001 when my boyfriend (now husband) decided he was going to ask me to Marry him while I was at work. He had this amazing plan that he was going to ask me down some grocery aisle. When he walked in the Store the first person he saw was Cal. She said " oh, no, no honey, Come with me" She took him back to the managment office and he asked me over the PA system. I was of coarse shocked. She came running up from the back of the store with Weston jumping up and down and dancing. She was an amazing, kind and vibrant person. I am so thankful I can say she was a part of my life. I tell this story to people all the time. Love you Cal

Heather

Cal was truly an amazing individual! I had the pleasure of supervising Cal for the completing of her Therapeutic Recreation Internship here at Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Each and everyday, Cal brought an uplighting energy and spirit to our youth who were depressed and struggling. Cal was liked by the youth and staff because of the smile on her face, her laughter and the compassion that came from within. We will always remember Cal for the great example she gave us, and know that she is always with us. To her family and friends, we would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to each of you during this difficult time.

I am shocked and saddened to hear of Cal's passing. It was my pleasure to get to know Cal when she entered the Therapeutic Recreation Program in Leisure Studies at The University of Iowa. Cal was a delightful student: interested, passionate, straightforward, curious, respectful, and always with a wonderful sense of humor.

I shared a few classes with Cal Yonda in college and worked with her at Hillcrest Food Services. I ran into her at my work a few years ago out of the blue. She was always upbeat and very friendly. I'm saddened to hear this news. She was far too young. My condolences to her family.

I am so sorry to hear about cal! I loved goin to eye appts. when she was working! Always had a smile and we would laugh!!she will be missed by me and many others!! Your family is in my thoughts n prayers!

I WANT TO THANK GOD FOR MEETING CALYONDA 15YRS AGO!!!!!!!!!! I WILL CHERISH OUR FRIENDSHIP MEMORIES, THE MANY TALKS, VISITS, LAUGHTER, WATCHING OUR DAUGHTERS GROW UP TOGETHER!!!!! IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT WE SAW EACH OTHER. I MISS YOU MY FRIEND! BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS, YOU ARE HIS ANGEL NOW! SO FLY AWAY MY FRIEND, FLY AWAY!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU ALWAYS. R.I.P CAL

Del & I are so saddened by this terrible loss. Cal was a wonderful person, so fun and warm. I remember her exitement, playing cards at our house, (while she took our money, by the way:-), saying, "Deal", while standing up at the table, dealing the cards. She came to Del's 65th Birthday party at our house, and my son, David, spent quite a bit of time talking to Cal and Ro. David told me later how much he enjoyed visiting with both of you, and has asked of you often.

My sympathies to all of Cal's family. She was always singing and "upbeat" when I would be at the Walmart Vision Center--we chatted a lot and I'm so proud she got her degree and she shared how much her family meant to her. She will be missed by many. God Bless.

R.I.H. CalYonda I will always remember all the fun times that we shared at N-Dub!! You were always smiling & making others smile with you!! You will be missed!! R.I.P. "Abdullah"

There are only a handful of people

That you'll meet in life

That truly touch your heart

And make you glad you're alive.

They've got a special presence

When they walk into a room

It's almost like they were sent there

To take away your gloom.

They can make you happy when

Everything seems sad

So happy it almost makes you mad.

They forget about their problems

And brighten up your day

And you don't realize it until

They've gone away.

They teach us to enjoy everyday

Live life to the fullest

Laugh, love and play.

Because there's no guarantee

You'll get another day.

So if you have a chance to make someone smile

don't pass up the opportunity to make them happy for awhile.

It may be their last chance and

You'll remember them and their smile.