Sandra Lawshe

She showed her love of music early on and began to take piano lessons when she was five years old. She would practice on the organ in All Saint's Church in New Britain. She was a percussionist in The O'Reilly's Lassie Drum Corp, in the 50's.

Sandra attended the Hartt School of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut, which is a performing arts conservatory. She often said she enjoyed school so much, she might as well continue and get her master's degree, as well. She studied the organ there and played professionally for many years. She later also went on to earn her Doctorate.

Sandra taught music in the New Britain public school system for twenty-five years, sharing her love of music with thousands of children. She married James Edward Martin on November 11th, 1968. Their daughter Candace Susan Martin was born on April 9th, 1972.

Sandra was divorced in December of 1981, and went on to later marry Theodore Lawshe on July 24th, 1993.

Ted and Sandra lived in Southington, Connecticut until 1998 when they moved to an area outside of Ashville, North Carolina. They enjoyed years of traveling together all over the world, including Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and China. Sandy often said that the people she met were just like your neighbor next door. In time, Ted and Sandra decided to move back to Connecticut to be closer to family. Her grandson, Bennett, was the light of her life.

Shortly after moving, Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer, and suffered the debilitating effects of the chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. She lost feeling in her extremities, but was determined to walk again, and she worked diligently with a physical therapist to regain her balance and independence.

Sandra never lost her love of music despite the effects of the treatment and severe arthritis in her hands - she recently purchased an electronic piano so she would be able to practice and begin playing once again.

Sandy passed up to heaven on January 2nd, 2025.

There will be visiting hours from 3-6 pm on January 14th, at New Britain Memorial & Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Avenue, in New Britain, CT.