Theresa Mary Helen Sander (nee Leinenweber) was called to her eternal rest on October 7, 2021 at the Spruce Manor Care Home, Dalmeny, SK., where she passed peacefully with family by her side. Theresa was born May 27, 1932, the youngest of four daughters of Emma (Straub) and Jacob Leinenweber. She was raised on a farm in the Carmelheim District and attended school in Leipzig, graduating high school from Notre Dame Convent. She went on to Normal School in Saskatoon, and her first teaching job was at Spy Ridge School northeast of Wilkie. Theresa married Jerry Sander, on November 24, 1952. They farmed in the Inverallen District east of Wilkie and in 1963 they moved with their four children into Wilkie, where Theresa resumed her teaching career at St. George School. Theresa also taught at Edam, and completed her B.Ed. Degree in 1983. In 1989 she retired from McKitrick School in North Battleford. Theresa’s work with literacy initiatives was formally recognized when the Saskatchewan Reading Council awarded her Teacher of the Year in 1985. Her relationships with her students and colleagues, many of whom became life-long friends, were very special to her. She would often “run into” or be sought out by former students and very much enjoyed those visits.
Theresa enjoyed socializing and was always at the center of organizing family gatherings, feasts and holiday celebrations when the house was full of relatives, friends and an abundance of homemade food and goodies. Theresa was an excellent cook and baker—her cinnamon buns and turkey dinners were legendary. She and Jerry loved dancing, playing cards, bowling, and following the Blue Jays. They also gave freely volunteering in their church communities, and travelled around the province, usually with Uncle John, to visit their children and their families. They also enjoyed trips to Europe, Hawaii, Florida and Nashville as well as several trips to Blue Jays games in Toronto and Minneapolis.
An avid gardener, Theresa canned, preserved and fermented all manner of delicious fruits, jams, jellies and pickles. She made the world more beautiful with her flower gardens and spread Himalayan orchids across the province sharing seeds with family and friends. Using her skills and passion for crafts and sewing, Theresa made beautiful unique gifts for friends and family and up-cycled clothing long before it was a fad.
In 1998, Theresa lost her beloved Jerry to cancer and in 2003 she moved to a condo in Saskatoon. She kept socially active and travelled to Europe, Alaska and Nova Scotia. These were the “Grandma and Great-Grandma Years”. Always the teacher, she shared with all the generations of the family her love for cooking, gardening, sewing, playing cards and especially her passion for books and reading. Theresa left us the legacy of her passions and skills and the gift of special memories of doing things together. After suffering a stroke in 2008 Theresa moved to the Luther Special Care Home and in March 2019 she found her final home at Spruce Manor Special Care Home in Dalmeny, where she received excellent care. Theresa’s family would like to thank all the caregivers and health practitioners who cared for Theresa over the years—especially those who helped navigate the challenges of COVID and whose dedication and compassion is proof of angels among us. Theresa will be remembered for always keeping alive her playful spirit and sense of humor even with the challenges of post-stroke life, and always rising to the challenge of teasing or a witty remark. We will always be thankful that she never passed up the opportunity for one more hug or one more “I love you”.
Left to cherish her memory are daughters: Julia(Ray) Lamontagne, Leask, SK, Anne(Pat) Wallace, Saskatoon, SK, and Theresa(Allan) Mitchell, Yorkton, SK; son Jack(Joanne) Sander, Prince Albert, SK;
grandchildren: Tyler Yakubchuk(Janick Bender), Adam Sander(Brittany Nowlan), Jack Wallace(Danielle Sharpe), Andrea Mugleston(Lannie), Mathew Sander, Sarah Wallace(John Zosiak), Jonah Sander(Julia Morava), Allison Mitchell(Nicholas Horlick) and Terri-Lynn Mitchell(Stephen Kreuger); step-grandchildren Trent (Brenda Kanzig) Mitchell, Renee(Dwayne) Rurka, and Dion(Juliane) Lamontagne; great-grandchildren: Peyton Yakubchuk, Zakary, Mataya, and Kaiya Sander, Braylin Smytaniuk, William and Nathan Wallace, Hanna, Sadie and Lucas Mugleston, Elizabeth, Aubrey and Jerry Sander, Clarke Mitchell, Paul and Rebecca Rurka, and Graham and Dustin Lamontagne; sisters-in-law: Agnes Wandler, North Battleford, SK, and Amelia Sander, Spruce Grove, AB., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Theresa was predeceased by her husband, Jerry Sander, her parents Emma and Jacob Leinenweber, her in-laws Julia and Wilhelm Sander; sisters: Elizabeth Tchida (John), Emma (Frank) and Anne (Jerome) Ell; sisters-in-law: Paula and Clementine Sander, Veronica and Julia Wandler, Mary Heilman, and Elizabeth Barth; and brothers-in-law: John Tchida, Frank and Jerome Ell, Joseph, Bill, John and Leo Sander, Martin, Tom and Mike Wandler, Anton Heilman and Ralph Barth.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to Spruce Manor Special Care Home, 701 1st St., Dalmeny, SK, SOK 1E0. Funeral arrangements are in care of Sallows & McDonald, Wilson & Zehner Funeral Home, North Battleford, SK.
