December 17, 1948 - April 5, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
Sandra passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the age of 75.
Sandra is survived by her loving husband Bill (William), Kelowna, BC; brother Gerald Hutchins, Goderich, ON; 3 children Karen (Trevor Hill), Kelowna, BC, Denise (Dale Martell), Kelowna, BC and Brent, Kelowna BC; grandchildren Samantha (Kirby Carter), West Kelowna, BC, Kelsey (Brad Mills) Lake Country, BC, Ryan, Kelowna, BC and Kyle, Kelowna, BC; great-granddaughter Mara, the light of Sandra's last few years.
She was predeceased by her parents George & Marguerite (Ida) Hutchins, older brothers Ken & Paul and older sister Lois.
Sandra was born in Goderich, Ontario and spent her childhood growing up in this beautiful town on Lake Huron. She was nicknamed "Little Hutch" as she was always trying to tag along with her big brother, who was 15 years her senior. She married Bill in October of 1968, they lived in Goderich where their daughters Karen & Denise were born before making their way out West to Calgary, AB in 1971 where their son Brent was born in 1972.
Sandra was a dedicated loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She worked as a bookkeeper and seamstress until hurting her back in 1988. She started her own kids clothing line when her grandchildren began arriving on the scene but sadly her health would only allow her to keep this passion up for a couple of years. Her family was her whole world and when she couldn't work anymore, she found joy in caring for her grandchildren, making sure they never wanted for anything.
She was always willing to help anyone in need and often you would find someone new living in the basement of their home. Sandra could never let anyone she knew go without a roof over their heads and homemade food in their stomach. She always opened their home to her children's friends who needed a place to stay for a couple of days or a couple of years.
Her health problems persisted for most of her life, but she was a fighter who so often beat the odds just because she was told there was nothing more that could be done for her. She fought a lifelong battle with asthma that later turned into COPD along with many years of heart disease. She was an inspiration to everyone around her.
Thank you to the compassion of her family physician, Dr Michelle DuPlessis, for working so hard to ensure Sandra had the best quality of life possible. In addition, we appreciate Dr Ryan Foster, nurses Stephanie, Alex, Brenda and the entire team on the ICU ward at Kelowna General Hospital. You made our wife and mom's last couple of weeks of life comfortable while helping her & the family navigate her wishes.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Sandra this summer in Kelowna, BC
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in her name to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.