Sandra Elin Moore

Sandra Elin (Holland) Moore went to Jesus her Lord on Friday 16 December 2022. She was surrounded by the love of her family, near and far. Sandy was born in Quincy, Massachusetts to Frederick C. Holland and Evelin D. Hagglund on 14 August 1938. She was an active, energizing and captivating individual with a strong personality her entire life. She was a great friend, wife, sister, mother, and grandmother.

The eldest of five children, Sandy leaves behind her siblings Susan Demark, Court Holland, Kathe Tortorice, and Kendall Holland and numerous nieces, nephews, and close cousins all of whom she adored. She was the only grandchild to know her grandfather the Reverend Dr. Sven Gustav Hagglund, who was Bishop of the New England Lutheran Conference for 26 years. Sandy loved to tell the story of her grandfather teaching her to be a trouble maker. When he was recovering from a heart attack he would have her ring a bell to summon her grandmother for help, only to laugh and laugh when she came running every time. She and her sisters attended the Woodward School for Girls, where she had a reputation for being an independent minded leader.

She attended Boston University and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Her senior year at BU she attended a military ball with Richard Moore. Little did she know he would be the love of her life. They married at her grandfather’s church on May 21, 1961. After their wedding she embarked on a wondrous 26 year Air Force adventure with stops in Texas, California, South Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, Delaware, Washington DC, Arizona, Nevada, Germany, Maryland, Greece, and Virginia.

Sandy was a loving mother to Susan (Eric) Holdsworth, Richard Moore, Jr., and David (Shelly) Moore and grandmother to Lairen Moore, David Moore, Jr., and Sonja Holdsworth. Family connection and faith were her guiding light. She traveled home to New England for Christmas every year she was in the US. She hosted large gatherings of family and friends every Thanksgiving and Easter. Most summers she took her children and grandchildren to Pleasant Lake, a magical place on Cape Cod where she spent many happy summers with her family.

Sandy managed to find time for a career in accounting that spanned 30 years. Her specialty was trusts and taxation. She was a warm and gracious hostess as a Commander’s wife in Greece and active with women’s groups during the military years. She was an active church member at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, serving as a counter and quilter. She and Dick hosted so many church mixers and Christmas parties over the years, their home was referred to as the POP Clubhouse.

Sandy was determined to prevail and overcome adversity. She recovered from a stroke in 2015. In 2019 she survived breast cancer and in 2021 navigated a partial hip replacement. Sandy remained an engaging, spirited personality the rest of her life.

Sandy was greatly beloved by her friends and family who will miss her greatly. We are comforted to know Sandy will be rejoicing with us in spirit this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A funeral service will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, MD on Saturday, January 7, 2022 at 11 AM with family receiving friends an hour prior to the service. Following the service, a light repast will be held at the Lodge at Seneca Creek, 14500-A Clopper Road, Boyds, MD. Interment will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran World Relief at https://lwr.org