Sandra attended the University of Albuquerque where she pursued two of her deepest passions and received both an Associate Degree in Nursing as well as a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology in 1980.
Shortly thereafter, Sandra moved to Monterey, California where she worked in the operating room at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. She then moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987 where she worked as a front line trauma nurse, OR nurse, and ER nurse at UMC Trauma Center for nearly 20 years. Sandra retired to Gallup, New Mexico in 2006, but quickly came out of retirement in order to teach in the Certified Nursing Assistant Program at the Navajo Technical College in Crownpoint. After 8 years of being an adored professor, Sandra fully retired and moved back to Las Vegas in 2014.
Sandra loved animals, having raised many dogs and cats over her lifetime and never turning away an animal in need. She had an undeniable artistic flair that was apparent through her vibrant sense of style and enjoyed crochet, needle point, and ceramics. Sandra was also profoundly knowledgable and fascinated by history. In her later years she took great joy in reconnecting with her family's own history via Ancestry.com.
Sandra is survived by her husband Joseph; her three children Debra Wilkerson, Kevin Bullock (Susie), and Kimberly Favazza. She also leaves four grandchildren, Aaron Bullock, Brianna Favazza, Johnny Favazza, and Amanda Bullock; and brothers Gary Smith and Ralph Smith.
Visitation for Sandra will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral service will follow on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Both will be held at Palm Eastern Mortuary located at 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Grabowski family.
