Sandra Elizabeth Gilbert

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sandra Elizabeth Gilbert (Thornton) or Sandi, with an I, she would say. She passed away peacefully in the presence of her daughter Alycia, after being able to visit with all her family June 25 at West Coast General Hospital (WCGH).

Sandi suffered many medical interventions over the course of her life and met each one with the tenacity of a bulldog. As her Husband, I asked her recently whether she had had enough, and her reply was "bring it on I've got lots more I want to do.”

Sandi is predeceased by her parents William “Mac” and Lillian Thornton, as well as many aunts and uncles the most recent being her Aunt Barb McClellan “GG” from Victoria. She is survived by her loving husband and lifelong partner Ted Gilbert of 49 years, just 36 days short of 50, her loving daughter Alycia Gilbert of Burnaby, Daughter Erin Anker (Steve Anker) of Port Alberni, her twin 9-year-old granddaughters “Thing 1 and Thing 2” or Emma and Lily Anker, Her Brother Brian Thornton (Meredith) of Dawson Creek, Sister-in-law and friend of 57 years Kathy Gilbert Greene (Bob Greene) of Chemainus, Deborah Carere of New Zealand, Michael McClellan of Victoria, Gail Hoole of Australia, Robert Butler of Australia, Raymond Harris of Manitoba, Donna Harris of Parksville, Jim Boss of Edmonton and John Sanderson of New York. A special thank you to our “other daughter” Laura Mccamley of Northern Ireland for her eloquent thoughts about Sandi to our family.

She started life with a major bump when her birth parents who were from Bella Coola, were both killed in a plane crash. They were returning to Vancouver to bring her home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as she was only 1 1/2 lbs. at birth. She was adopted at 2 mos. old by her adoptive mother and father William “Mac” and Lillian Thornton. She was made aware by her family that she had indigenous roots. She took her ancestry seriously and spent time travelling to many indigenous communities so she could help her daughters understand their heritage.

Growing up in Vancouver she went to public school and eventually BCIT where she graduated as a medical imaging technician. She worked all over the province as a relief technician. When we moved to Port Alberni in 1974, we soon discovered we did not want to live anywhere else. Sandi started working at WCGH, eventually becoming the department manager, until she was forced to retire due to health reasons in 2002. Along the way she met many lifelong friends.

She loved sports and joined commercial softball playing for Reids Autobody. She also loved being a spectator and during baseball season could be found with 3 TVs running with 3 separate games running back and forth barking advice to the various players. In later years we would travel to Phoenix during spring training and watch whoever was playing.

Sandi took a highly active role in the growth and education of her daughters. She spent many years on ball fields, at swimming pools, at dance lessons, as well as giving them a lifetime interest in the Girl Guide movement. She took them all the way through guiding as an involved parent and eventually their leader to co-commissioner of guiding in the Alberni Valley. She organized camping trips in and around the valley, as well as activities on the mainland. She was fondly known to her guides as “the penguin lady,” in reference to the way she walked.

Throughout her years in Port Alberni, she was also actively involved in many Sorority chapters and various charities. Sandi found the comradery inspiring and made many lifelong friends. A huge thank you to all her sisters for being so loving, generous, compassionate, and supportive through all her difficult life events, both difficult and joyous.

Being her husband of, nearly, 50 years we travelled extensively throughout North America from Alaska down to Southern Mexico. Travelling was one of her many passions. She was an excellent planner as well as an expert navigator. If you can take a 50 ft fifth wheel through downtown L.A., Hollywood and Vine in rush hour unscathed you are good. On one of many road trips, a canyon tour, one of our daughters pleaded, “No more rocks please mom!”

Sandi was an avid reader and as such so are our daughters. As an accomplished pianist in her younger years, she developed an incredible love of music. Our daughters and granddaughters have spent countless hours enjoying grandma's favorite musicals and song choices. Her passion for fine arts has clearly been passed on to her children.

One of her favorite adventures was her annual Christmas shopping trip to the USA with her daughter Alycia, friend Lorna, sister-in-law Kathy, and friend Sylvie. There was no one that could out-shop her. Our granddaughters were very spoiled and Disney stocks took a spike when she went south.

All in all, anyone who met Sandi had their lives enriched in some way. Her patience and Zen calmness followed her everywhere she went. She demonstrated how strong and determined a person can be through adversity and how calmly and reverently adversity can be mastered. She will remain an exceptional role model for our family.

Our heartfelt thanks to Dr. D. White for his effort on Sandi’s behalf and the years of care he and Melissa have provided for her. In Dr. White’s words she was complicated. Thank you to the exceptionally caring staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital and WCGH. You are as competent and caring as any in the province. Thank you for all your efforts and kindness.

The time has come to say goodbye to my sweetheart, mother of my children and grandmother of Lily and Emma.

We will meet again in another life where we will finish what we started.

Kisses, my love.

In Lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Ty Watson House: Alberni Valley Hospice Society on her behalf.