Sandra "Sandy" Ann (Cowgill) Thompson

I would like to thank all of you for being here today. Thank you for being here on this sad occasion to pay your respects and to honor Mom. Everyone’s love and condolences have helped, as we try to get through this difficult time.

Today I want to honor my Mom. My name is Judi.

I want to share a glimpse with you about who she was to me, how she influenced my life and how much I will miss her.

This all seems very surreal to me, and it would be impossible to say in this Eulogy all of the things I want to say about my Mom, Sandy. She meant the world to me. Losing Mom is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

It was very important to Mom that people know she loved all her children. She always said that the greatest joy in her life was having her children and despite any negative things she experienced she tried to be strong, and she always fought for her children. It wasn’t just the words she would say, it was the deeply pure and genuine way in which she said them.

From the time I was born to present day, I am grateful for the time I spent with mom.

Recently, after Mom died, I spent my first days ever in hospital and it gave me yet again, a tiny glimpse of how strong Mom has always been. When she woke up after just being taken off a ventilator, her first words were words of love, “I love you”, “I’m sorry”, and “thank you”. She could have been upset, focused on herself but instead she wanted us to know her love and gratitude.

We also know these things about mom…

Everybody loved Mom’s personality, sense of humour, her great quick wit, her smile, and her laugh. Her smile and hugs always warmed your heart. She had a special place in many people’s hearts, making people smile and laugh. She was gentle and kind with others showing compassion and care even to other residents at her home.

Mom was also very proud that she had been a really good and caring, compassionate nurse.

Mom desired to help others.

Even though Mom lived with Dementia herself, Mom wanted to help others and she tried to walk with and shadow the nurse.

Mom still tried to stand up for herself and for others and say it like it is or call a spade a spade. Mom always tried to communicate what her needs were. Even at the hospital she said sweetly “come on let’s go. I want to go home now, I’m not smart mouthing, I want to go home now”.

Of course, everybody loved her beautiful smile and laugh. She was spunky (sassy) and tenacious. People always noticed she had really unique blue eyes that would sparkle. But it wasn’t just the colour of her uniquely stunning eyes, people say that the eyes are the window to your heart and soul. It was her good pure heart and soul that they noticed. It was her heart and soul that made her blue eyes sparkle the way they did. Mom radiated; she would light up with her love for you each time she saw you. It was delightful the way she lit up, warm, welcoming, kind, nurturing and caring. She appreciated being with you and was thankful.

Mom, when we looked into your sky-blue eyes, we looked through the windows to your soul and we saw first and foremost your love for us, constant, pure, and true. A Never ending love, strong, courageous in spite of all you faced, love that never gave up, love and strength that fought for us all the days of your life even in the ICU at age 75.

I asked Mom if there was anything important, she had ever wanted to tell me or to ask me? MOM said: “I love all of my children and I just want you all to know that I did fight for all of you, and I never stopped fighting for you”.

Mom had some amazing qualities, even as her dementia progressed. Some of the good qualities my Mom had and that I learned from her:

- She raised me ‘right’ and taught me how to love,

- taught me kindness and compassion, right from wrong and to have intelligence,

- taught me to be a lady, have self-respect and to respect others,

- taught me manners, dignity, integrity and to have faith, she taught me to take the high road

- taught me perseverance, strength of character, and how to overcome adversity no matter what it was, especially during the past 2 years of lock down,

isolations and restrictions, her determination and strength and resilience during these challenges were nothing short of heroic. Not to mention her ability to

still smile, laugh and love.

- She taught me how to dance, laugh, joke, and even have fun in the midst of tough times,

- She taught me about God and Jesus.

I had many talks with Mom that were amazing, healing, beautiful, and positive. We always said to each other “I love you more than anything in the world and that will never change”.

Even Other people who knew Mom had words of comfort and positive memories of Mom to share with me. I’d like to share a few of those quotes with you now…

- “She was an absolute delight, and I will miss her presence very much”

- “I will remember her spunky attitude and her smile that always warmed my heart, her smile was infectious, her hugs were strong and full of love. She

would greet you with sass and her eyes and smile would radiate warmth”

- Another person said: “When I think back about your Mom, the first thing that comes to mind is her wit and sense of humour”

Even Growing Up

- When I was a young girl there was always a lot of positive fun, joy, laughter with Mom

- Mom was attentive, loving, nurturing, trustworthy, fair, kind, caring, and supportive. She always put her children first. There are so many additional good

things I could say. Too many to include them all in this eulogy.

- We were able to play, laugh, have fun, and enjoy the positive energy that surrounded Mom

- Mom was a good cook and would make healthy meals and she baked things as well

- And she always made birthdays and holidays special it was important to Her

- Mom helped me with schoolwork

- She had a heart of Gold and the ‘heart’ of a Mom through and through

Throughout her life Mom absolutely loved Music and Dancing. At Parkwood and wherever she went, Mom had all the staff up dancing and she could keep up with them, great rhythm in her feet, legs, heart and soul. I cherish memories and moments with Mom regarding music spanning my whole life. Another example is when we took her to the movies to see Mama Mia, she absolutely Loved It and she was singing to the songs with the rest of the audience and dancing in her chair. She had such good positive spirit and a zest for life.

Mom also liked the Backstreet Boys and I wasn’t sure where that came from, it wasn’t from Me, but recently I heard amazing stories from Mom’s granddaughter about joyful things they did together related to this music. Aha, Mom did special things. & This fit for Me. She had fond memories of doing special things with her and right up to present day, Mom still held this music dear to her heart and it would make her smile and dance even on the toughest days.

Mom loved all animals. She fondly remembered a dog she had growing up. She also liked going to Springbank Park and feeding bird seed to the birds and chipmunks.

Mom loved the water and the beach, the outdoors and fresh air.

She also loved sports and spoke fondly of participating in school activities growing up and she enjoyed watching sports on TV or live.

Mom had attended a day program for people with Dementia. While attending this program, she proudly got the high score in bowling. When Mom was at Parkwood, she loved going to the gym with me and shooting hoops, she actually at one point, got 78 in a row. She was proud and cheering and high fiving everyone.

Mom loved lemon meringue pie; she was sentimental (it reminded her of making homemade lemon pie with her Mom)

Mom absolutely loved going ‘out’ i.e., in the car for a drive. She wished that she could have her own care and drive. She would snap her fingers and sing along to the music. She was the best ‘co-pilot’, she would be smiling and so appreciative and happy ‘to be out’. She didn’t take the beauty in things for granted. She would always notice the flowers, trees, and the beautiful houses. She would always say “you are an excellent driver”, “this car rides nice”, and “it’s so good to be out”.

Before Mom’s dementia progressed, we had a weekly routine, we would take her Every Saturday to get her hair done, then for supper and to Northpark Church. Mom said that she felt safe and at home here at North Park. She would stand and read/sing all the songs. Even with her dementia and other aspects, she would bravely walk to the front of a full church and pray with Pastor Paul every week. Pastor Paul also shared that he has fond memories of praying and talking with Mom. Pastor Paul and Mom also both shared a great sense of humour.

Mom, I love you more than anything, I will miss you so much and I think of you every day. You are finally free, safely gone home to Heaven, to loving arms to receive all that was always meant to be yours, to be safe, to be cherished, to belong and to be fully loved and accepted for your own self. You will always be remembered and loved. I know that you deeply missed your own Mom and I pray you are with her now in Heaven. I made a promise to Mom that I intend to keep, that I will see her again in Heaven.

& Mom would not want us to be sad today. She would want us to be strong and think of all the great times and wonderful memories we had of her. She would want us to dance and to picture her dancing in Heaven. Mom’s memory will live on forever in all of us, and in everyone she met. I love you, Mom.

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THOMPSON (Nee Cowgill), Sandra Ann; Sandy passed away surrounded by the love of her family at University Hospital, London ON., on Sunday October 16th at the age of 75. Now she is at home in Heaven, safe in God's loving arms. She will be deeply missed. Loving mother of Christine, Kevin, Judi, Johnny, and (Jeff). Beloved grandmother of Rachel, Nichole, Brent, Danielle, Tenan, and Harper. Cherished great-grandmother of Rebecca, Breanna, Lucas, and Kylie. Dear sister of Fred Cowgill. Aunt of Debbie, David, Trudy, Michelle, Tammy, Jason, Jerome, and their families. Tuesday November 1, 2022 at NORTH PARK COMMUNITY CHURCH, 1510 Fanshawe Park Rd. East, an open visitation and funeral service will be held. Visitation from 11:00 AM immediately followed by funeral service at 12:00 PM. (After the service there will then be a private lunch reception for family and invited others only). Interment at Woodland Cemetery at 3:00 PM. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Sandy are asked to please consider donations to North Park Community Church or the Alzheimer’s Society.