Sandra "Sandy" E Boulware

Sandra “Sandy” E. Boulware, 84, formerly of Bloomington passed away December 1, 2021. She was born November 20, 1937, in Aledo, IL to Howard and Mary (Power) Brown. She married Gerald “Gary” Boulware on August 18, 1956 at St Mary’s Church in Bloomington.

Sandy is survived by her loving husband of 65 years: Gary; children: Allen (Holly) Boulware, Ralph (Krysti) Boulware, Mark (Denny) Boulware, Greg (Susan) Boulware, Karen (Craig) Pieschke; honorary daughter: Dani Krapohl; grandchildren: Gary Boulware, Danielle (Fred Tabares) Zuniga, Adam (Katie) Boulware, Nikki Boulware, Joshua Boulware, Jason Boulware, Chandler (Sarah) Boulware, Tim Boulware, David Boulware, Jacob Boulware, Jesse (Marian) Pieschke, Tyler Pieschke; great-grandchildren: Karissa and AJ Hernandez, Mikeala Peloquin, Leo, Violet and Scarlet Boulware, Vanessa and Eva Zuniga, Logan and Liam Boulware; siblings: Barbara (Dick) Class, Bob (Linda) Brown; and sisters-in-law: Sue and Mary Brown. She is preceded in death by her parents; and siblings: Ralph and David Brown; and daughter-in-law: Nancy Grefsrud Boulware.

Sandy’s life was being a wife, mother, grandma, and great grandma. In 1979, she, Gary, and their two youngest children relocated from Bloomington, IL to Clearwater, FL. Her career was in electronics, building and testing circuit boards. She retired from Leeds & Northrup in 1999. She enjoyed the local beaches and their home pool. Gary lovingly called her his "little mermaid”. She was a devout Catholic and attended St. Cecelia church. Because of health concerns, they moved back to central IL in 2016, first Minier, then Hopedale.

Sandy’s fondest childhood memories were going to visit grandma in the country. She believed she was grandma’s favorite. She especially liked playing on the hen house! Her earliest ambition was to be a school teacher.

Things that made her smile included: mornings at the beach, reading, playing cards, and square dancing; and most especially her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Some of her proudest moments included watching son, Mark, graduate from college, seeing the children and grandchildren married. She cherished every moment with her grandkids and great-grandkids. She relished celebrating in style her and Gary’s 40th, 50th, and 60th Wedding Anniversaries. She thoroughly enjoyed a trip to England.

Her greatest accomplishments were her marriage, raising five good kids, and documenting her family’s lives via photo albums. She also took pride in having played the French horn in the Hillsboro High School marching band, being a brownie and girl scout, and donating who knows how many gallons of blood to the American Red Cross.

Sandy’s and Gary’s song was “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” by the Ink Spots. She loved everything Elvis sang. She enjoyed yellow roses, chocolate, candy, romantic Hallmark movies, and sending/receiving letters and Christmas cards.

She was a listener, an empathizer, and a great encourager! She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington, from 10:00 am – noon, followed by a light lunch. Later in the day, at 5:00 pm, a Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor Timothy Nolan at St Joseph Catholic Church, 205 Washington at 2nd Street, Hopedale, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Hopedale Medical Complex, 107 Tremont Street, Hopedale, IL 61747.

Memories and condolences may be left with the family at: eastlawnmemorial.com