Sandra Susan Sanchez

Sandra Susan Sanchez entered the world on 8/1/1961 as the youngest and sixth child of Alejandro and Faustina Sanchez completing their family of eight. She received her Call to Heaven on November 6th, 2025.

She grew up nestled in her beloved East Hills of San Jose receiving a solid foundation in faith and education, ultimately graduating from James Lick High School in 1979. She went on to obtain her Associate’s Degree in Journalism from San Jose City College in 1982. While she did not become that desired roving reporter, she managed to fulfill that dream through occupations that allowed her to stretch her writing muscle influencing situations and impressing others with her magnetism, writing prose and flair!

She married in 1983 and achieved another lifetime dream of, at last, becoming a mother to her beautiful children. She worked while she raised them, but her children were her primary focus, always wanting the best for them.

As life does, it will give you lemons and her righteous character only allowed her to make lemonade. Not only did she make lemonade, but lemon tea cakes, lemon bars, lemon drops, Arnold Palmers, etc.! In an entrepreneurial, independent spirit, she carved out her own niche developing her own accounting business, but not before mentoring under and collaborating with her business associate and close friend, Rashad M. Said, creating and spearheading the grant writing program at Heald College for 10 years, from where she ultimately retired in 2008.

She crafted a new life and continued in her entrepreneurial lifestyle that included everyone. While her family was of the utmost importance, God was first and foremost in her life, her faith called her to serve her brothers and sisters in Christ and serve she did, not only personally, but in the extended community and local church, giving of her time and resources.

In addition to working hard, she lived her life boldly, vivaciously, adventurously, joyously and with a dash of panache always wanting the BEST in life for herself and everyone else! Those of us who were fortunate enough to be in attendance during her adventures can truly attest to that! She was a blessing to all the lives she touched, and she will be deeply Missed!

She is preceded in death by her sister, Gloria; her parents, Alejandro and Faustina; and her brothers, Rudy and Daniel.

She is survived by her sisters, Vera Macias of Oakley, CA and Linda Sanchez of Antioch, CA; her sister-in-law, Helen Sanchez of Antioch, CA; her son, JP Rios and granddaughter, LJ Rios of Houston, TX; her daughter, Nina Rios, grandson, Elijah Rios of San Jose, CA and grandson, Mark Moreno of Houston, TX; her son Aaron Martinez, daughter-in-law, Farm Martinez (nee Saelee) and granddaughter, Luna Martinez of Oakland, CA.

Amongst the devastated at her passing are members of the Renteria, Sanchez, and the Escalera families: Tias, Tios, Primas, Primos, Sobrinas, Sobrinos, etc., etc....

To All her friends, particularly Daysi and Dolly, whom she considered “family” in the end, a special embrace to you for your dedication, your allegiance to her and especially the profound Love you showed her throughout the last years and to everyone not mentioned here who are too numerous to note as she had influenced so many lives. She was overjoyed you were in her life.

One can honestly say: She lived life to the fullest until she passed.

~PSALMS 23~

Services will be on Friday, January 9th, 2026, at:

Emmanuel Baptist Church

467 N. White Road

San, Jose, CA 95127

11:30am-1:00pm

Dinner reception TBD