Alexandra "Sandra" Dempsey

It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Alexandra "Sandra" Dempsey

(nee Smith) of White Rock, BC, who passed away on January 5th, with her

loving children and devoted husband by her side. Now that her battle with cancer

is over, this sparkling, elegant lady, friend, mum, grandmother and greatgrandmother

of 77 years can rest in peace with love in her heart and the sound

sleep she always sought.

Sandra was born in Glasgow, Scotland on January 21, 1943, the eldest daughter

of Alec and Ena Smith. She grew up in Scotstoun in Glasgow, attending Victoria

Drive Secondary School, then moved to Whitecrook, Clydebank during her

teenage years, and began working for McCann, McGoldrick and Co., a solicitor's

firm in Glasgow. She developed a keen interest in literature, reading everything

from Jude The Obscure to The Old Curiosity Shop and various science fiction

novels. She had an inquisitive mind, and would later continue her studies at night

school, completing her Scottish Certificate of Education in Higher English at

Anniesland College in 1973. In 1963, Sandra married her long-time sweetheart

James "Jim" Dempsey, formerly of Partick, who worked in the butcher's shop in

Scotstoun.

Sandra and Jim moved to the West End of Glasgow, settling in the University

district of Hillhead, a thriving, idyllic neighbourhood populated by actors, artists

and students, an appropriate place to be for a creative soul like Sandra. The

couple's sons Graeme, Grant and Cameron were born in 1965, 1969 and 1971

respectively, and attended Hillhead Primary School - the school Sandra wanted

for her boys' education. It was a happy time for the Dempsey family, with the

Botanic Gardens, BBC Studios, the Western Baths and the Salon Cinema just

around the corner, and Byres Road, the University Café and Kelvingrove Art

Gallery all nearby. During those formative years for her children, Sandra

continued working part-time as a legal secretary with the same firm, before the

family emigrated to Canada at the end of the 1970s, where much of the

Dempsey clan had settled.

Sandra and her family lived in Richmond, Crescent Beach and White Rock for

many years, while she continued as a legal assistant in Vancouver, driving her

white Suzuki jeep through many a rush hour, with Rod Stewart blasting from the

stereo system. She retired from the legal profession in the early 2000s,

whereupon she and Jim found time to travel the world, returning numerous times

to visit family in Clydebank, and enjoying holidays (often in the company of their

sons, their sons' partners, grandchildren or friends) in Harrison Hot Springs,

Mexico, Greece, Palm Springs, Hawaii, Italy, France and Ireland.

It would be wrong to say that Sandra lost her battle with cancer, because she

never stopped fighting, right to the end. No matter how sick, she showed

amazing grace, even gathering presents for the grandchildren in anticipation of

what would be her last Christmas. Through her, we now know what resilience

and perseverance look like and we will be forever grateful for her unconditional

love throughout our lifetimes. As we celebrated Scottish Hogmanay with her on

December 31st, the light in her eyes was strong, her quips as brilliant as ever.

And even though she is no longer with us in body, those who were loved by her

will always cherish the incredible memories she made for us. Her joy for life,

indomitable spirit and love for all who knew her, will live on in all of us. We love

you Mum. And as your favourite band The Beatles once memorialized, LOVE is

all you need. You never quite realised just how many people loved you, but you

should see how lost we are now. You take that Love with you, Mum, and your

family & friends on both sides of the Atlantic will miss you dearly for the rest of

our lives.

Sandra is pre-deceased by her parents Alec and Ena Smith, and is survived by

her sister Andrea (John) Harkins, nephews David and Alex Harkins, cousins

Robert and Phyllis Lamb, her husband Jim and their children, Graeme (Jeffrey),

Grant (Sue), and Cameron (Katrina), along with her six grandchildren, Victoria

(Tim), Ethan, Liam, Sarah, Kai and Ruby, and great-grandchild, Alexandra.

In lieu of flowers, please play Lennon & McCartney songs at full volume and tell

the people close to you how much you love them each and every day.

Until we meet again, Mum.

The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff of Peace Arch Hospital for

their stellar work in keeping Mum comfortable.