Sandra Anne Johnston

April 7, 1942 – June 9, 2025

Sandra passed peacefully, with her husband, David, by her side, after a brief battle with cancer on June 9, 2025 at North York General Hospital in North York, Toronto. She is survived by David (her spouse of 55 years), her children, Stephen and Kenneth and grandchildren Nicole, Ryan and Matthew. She is also survived by cousins Nancy and Crawford Heritage and their family (Kevin and Mark Heritage, Lisa Jones and Carolyn Rusin), Shirley Henry and family of Detroit, and Cathie and Kenneth Towle

Sandra will be remembered as a loving mother and educator, devoted to family, who loved every moment spent with her children and grandchildren.

Her love of Dave is manifested in the phrase / song “Love is a many splendored thing”. The phrase is famously from the title of a popular song and movie from the 1950s; it comes from an autobiographical book by Han Suyin, an author whom Sandra followed. The book, and the phrase, explores the multifaceted nature of love, highlighting its joys, sorrows, and complexities.

Sandra always enjoyed a strong and close relationship with cousins Nancy and Shirley, and together they became known as the “three sisters”.

Sandra was gifted, insightful, calm, wise and so generous in every way. She always had the right word and was so elegant not only in her appearance but so very much in her language. She had a brilliant way of identifying a problem, minimizing a difficult situation and always coming up with the best solution.

Sandra was blessed with a gift for languages and a love of literature. In her development years, she attended Earl Haig Collegiate in Toronto/Willowdale and the University of Toronto where she majored in French and Russian with a minor in German.

On graduation, she stood first in her class and was nominated valedictorian. The numerous scholarships and rewards Sandra received stand as recognition to her academic excellence and were instrumental in supporting her on her journey through both undergraduate and graduate studies at the U of T.

Following completion of her master’s program and the Ontario Collage of Education, Sandra combined her passions and commenced a teaching career at C W Jeffries Secondary School in North York where she taught languages, notably French and Russian.

Married in 1970, she moved with Dave to NYC, where he had started his consulting career, and took a position with the Canadian Consulate where she used her language skills to assist and screen potential immigrants. This was a job and stage of life Sandra loved, and frequently recounted stories from those days in New York.

Following their return to Canada with Steve, born in 1973 in New York, Ken was born in Toronto in 1974, and Sandra and Dave bought their first home.

As her kids grew and became more self-sufficient, Sandra returned to teaching and eventually to assisting wonderful teachers in the Gifted Program at Denlow Public School. As told by Zatoon Vania, a career teacher, researcher and close friend of Sandra:

“Sandra, a teacher, neat as a pin and always immaculate in manner, style and mode of operation, was a human being first. She was refined, kind and always most generous and helpful to all our students in the primary/secondary and even at university levels. She was a brilliant scholar and excelled in all language studies - especially English, French and mathematics.

She was my best adjudicator, friend and enabler. Every summer for six years, I taught at McGill University. Sandra came for a visit and she delighted in working with these very highly gifted students - from grade one to grade ten.

I miss Sandra very much - we were so close. Sandra, my dearest and best of friends ever! I mourn for you. May you rest in peace. God’s love be with you always.”

The family would like to express deep thanks to the staff at North York General Hospital for their compassionate care and support particularly in her last three weeks.

A private, Saying Goodbye Service, has taken place. A Celebration of Life service will be held by the family at the Kane-Jarrett Funeral Homes on October 11, 2025 from 2:00 pm to 5 pm at 6191 Yonge St North York; 416-223-6050.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation in loving memory to North York General Hospital (Oncology Research) or a charity of your choice).