Sandra Anne Bogdanich

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sandra Anne Bogdanich, a beautiful and loving wife, super mom to her 3 children, sister, aunt, and friend. Sandra passed away on July 18, 2021 at the age of 75.

She was predeceased by her beloved parents Robert Douglas and Bertha Violet Oxford (nee Lake). Sandra is survived by her husband Giuseppe (Joe), her three children: Alana, Maria and Pietro and Pana her favorite puppy. She is also survived by her sister Sonja, brother in law (Robert), nephews, cousins and many dear friends.

Sandra graduated from Kitsilano High School in 1964. Her natural charisma, intelligence and determination led her to a very successful career in the Banking industry. She was always very proud to have been promoted as one of Canada’s first loan managers.

Sandra’s greatest joy and happiness was being a committed mother and enjoying all of life’s experiences raising her children. Sandra was always supportive of her children’s sport activities; she was an extremely proud hockey and soccer mom.

Sandra’s caring disposition and spunky personality will be remembered by all those who knew and loved her. She will remain forever in our hearts.

We will always love her Higher Bigger than the Sky.

A prayer service for Sandra will be held Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 7pm at St. Michael's Parish , 9387 Holmes Street, Burnaby, British Columbia. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place the following day at 12:30. Following Mass her burial will occur at Robinson Memorial Park Cemetery, 621 Robinson Street, Coquitlam, BC.

-Eulogy-

On behalf of the Bogdanich family, I would like to thank everyone for attending Christian services in recognition of Sandy Bogdanich’s wonderful life.

My name is Brian Carlson. I have been asked by the family to read Sandy’s Eulogy. I have known Sandy since 1975 when she was my loan manager at Bank of B.C. Granville and 13th Vancouver and subsequently a few years later, Lougheed and North Road, Burnaby.

Sandy was born on May 4, 1946 in Powell River British Columbia. She lived in the Westview area with her parents Robert and Bertha Oxford and her older sister Sonja. When Sandy was 7 years of age, the family moved to Vancouver. Sandy Oxford attended Trafalgar Elementary and Kitsilano High School. Sandy’s charming personality made her popular at school; she made friends everywhere she went. Sandy was beautiful, smart and always very witty. She was always very happy and fun to be around. Sandy remained friends with many of her Kitsilano high school friends throughout her entire life and many of those friends who knew and loved her, are here today.

Sandy had a very successful career in the banking industry. She worked in banking for many years and again developed some lifelong friendships during the course of her career. Sandy was extremely talented; she really enjoyed helping people to obtain credit loans and mortgages. She was always extremely proud to have been promoted as Canada’s first female loan manager at the Bank of British Columbia. Her infectious personality with clients provided excellent results for the bank.

Sandy lost both of her parents at a young age. Her father passed away in 1970 when she was only 24 years old. Her mother then passed away in 1972. In 1973 Sandy visited a Tarot card reader and was told that she would meet a man, born far away across the pond and they would have a family together.

In 1974, Sandy met Joe at a nightclub in Vancouver; it was love at first sight and the beginning of a beautiful love story…

Sandy and Joe dated for 7 years before they finally decided to get married. Sandy was very dedicated to her career, shopping, visiting with friends and of course lying on beaches in Hawaii or beside pools in Palm Springs. She just didn’t know if getting married and having children was for her.

Joe was extremely proud to introduce Sandy to his Italian family and in particular, his “nona” – Caterina. Sandy absolutely fell in love with Caterina and the feeling was mutual. Sandy admired Caterina who was so loving, caring, happy and most of all proud to be a mother. Caterina surrounded herself with her 4 children, grandchildren, family members and friends. Caterina was a perfect example of how to have a loving family. It was Caterina who inspired Sandy to have one of her own.

In 1981, at the age of 35 Sandy married Joe. Their wedding song was “Love Me With All of Your Heart.” Sandy did just that – she loved Joe with all of her heart from the first day she met him and in return, he too loved her with all of his heart.

Sandy gave birth to her first daughter Alana Angelina in 1981. In 1983, Sandy gave birth to her 2nd daughter Maria Caterina, named after Nona. And In 1985, Sandy gave birth to a son Pietro Roberto… 3 children in 37 months. Sandy always bragged I got my “hat trick” … Words of a true hockey mom!

Sandy and Joe had their marriage blessed in the Catholic Church on February 25, 1989. This date was significant as it was the exact same date Nona Caterina was married in 1923. Sandy arranged for this exact date of marriage because she loved our Nona so very much.

After a few years of starting a family, Sandy retired from her banking career to become a stay at home mom. She helped to support her family financially when she began a cleaning business of her own. This allowed her to have flexible hours and to focus on what she loved most in life – her 3 children.

Sandy’s family meant everything to her. She was an absolute Super Mom. She was also a neighborhood mom to all the children who came to her home. She provided after school care for many of her children’s friends.

Sandy was a huge supporter of her children’s sport teams. She would drive to soccer and hockey games all over the lower mainland. Sandy was particularly proud of her son’s hockey career. As a hockey mom, she enjoyed more than 15 years of being her son’s number one fan. She drove to many hockey games, practices and tournaments. She never missed a game. She was a supportive fan to her son and to all players on each team he played for. She was so excited and proud to share that her son had received a full- ride athletic scholarship to a prestigious University in New York State. I’m sure she’s told everyone here today about his college hockey days!

When the children were in Secondary school, Sandy would always allow her children to host parties at her home. She could have written a book on raising teenagers; she let them be themselves under her watchful eye. There are so many memories of parties at the Bogdanich family home that will forever be cherished by her children and many of their friends.

Once the children had left home, Sandy started a skip tracing business working from her home. Sandy enjoyed working from home and meeting new contacts and friends through her company.

Sandy was diagnosed with cancer in April of 2020. She was determined to fight and never gave up. She went through treatments for 15 months; she never complained, not even once. She always kept a positive attitude while enjoying every last minute of life with her husband and her children. Sandy fought right to the end because she loved her life and she loved her family and her puppy, Pana, so very much. Her strength and positive mindset has inspired her family … they are so very proud of her.

Her family will cherish all the wonderful memories she gave us. We are forever grateful for all the sacrifices Sandy made in raising her family and the wonderful, strong, and positive role model she was. Sandy was most proud of her children’s accomplishes and career successes. She was a very supportive mom to her children’s efforts in whatever endeavor they attempted.

God blessed us all these past 75 years with a wonderous gift… Sandra Anne Bogdanich. Everyone who had the privilege and opportunity to meet and to get to know her will never forget what a special gift from God she was. She is in heaven celebrating with her parents, in-laws and friends for eternity. As a caring and loving lady she has earned the right to be in heaven.

She will be our guardian angel forever.

“God has given a Treasure of immense and untold worth. Someone beautiful to share our faith, our lives, and our memories. He blessed us with a wondrous Gift… you… Sandy Bogdanich, our friend, our family, our sister, our mother and wife, to Joe.”

Sandy, we love you higher bigger than the sky.