Wanda Dench knows Thanksgiving is a time meant to be surrounded by loved ones.
And although the 67-year-old—who became known online as the “Thanksgiving Grandma” after she invited then-stranger Jamal Hinton to her holiday dinner thinking it was her grandson—lost her husband Lonnie Dench in April 2020 due to COVID-19, she is hopeful to have a special someone for next year’s meal.
"I don't like being alone, and I miss my husband,” Wanda told The Arizona Republic in an interview published Nov. 26. "I wish he was still here, but that's not reality.”
The Arizonan—who revealed in October, through a post to Jamal’s X (formerly Twitter) account, that she is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer—started tuning into The Golden Bachelor in 2023, which inspired her to give love another chance.
“[The show] gave me hope that I could start dating, and maybe find a second love,” Wanda continued. “And it would not be the same, but it would still be genuine."
But while she is open to welcoming a new love in her life, Wanda knows that her friendship with Jamal—which began in 2016 and has brought the pair together for Thanksgiving ever since—is also a beautiful gift.
"I feel blessed to have him in my life,” Wanda shared, noting this year’s holiday plans will still happen amid her cancer treatments. “He's changed my life for the good, and so we're going to make it work."
“I have a different appreciation now about life,” she added. “For me, it's about being with the people that I love.”
And Jamal is equally as grateful for Wanda, emphasizing he is willing to work around her health to make their annual meetup happen.
"I would, of course, go up to make sure that we are still having Thanksgiving and being together,” he said, “because that's what's important together."
Keep reading to look back at Wanda and Jamal’s Thanksgiving meals over the years.
2023
The two reunited for a Thanksgiving meal for the eighth consecutive year.
2023
...after teaming up with Airbnb for a promotion in which another guest joined in on the fun. "Our year 8 selfie," Jamal wrote on Instagram. "Thanks for staying with us, Arseni, and for being part of the good in the world this holiday season #airbnbpartner"
2022
The two reunited for the seventh consecutive Thanksgiving.
2021
"Thanksgiving 2021," Jamal wrote on Instagram. "6 years strong."
2020
"5 years strong!" Jamal wrote on Instagram. "Happy Thanksgiving everyone."This marked the first holiday for Wanda without her husband Lonnie Dench. In April 2020, he passed away from COVID-19.
2019
"As promised!" Jamal wrote on Instagram. "Here’s our 2019 update."
2018
Jamal wrote on Instagram, "It’s a tradition now #thanksgiving2018."
2017
After the two reunited for Thanksgiving for the second consecutive year, Jamal wrote on Instagram. "I guess you can say thanksgiving was one for the books."
2016: The Start of a Beautiful Friendship
In 2016, Jamal accepted Wanda's accidental invite to her Thanksgiving dinner, which had meant to text her grandson. "That's what grandma's do..." she wrote, "feed every one."