Sandra Lea Budzitowski

Sandra Lea Budzitowski, age 78, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2023, at Lutheran Collier Hospice in Wheat Ridge, Colorado after her brave battle the last few months with pancreatic cancer. Sandra was born on June 17, 1944, in Denver, Colorado to William and Fern Drotar. She was the first of their four children and grew up in Lakewood, Colorado, in a small modest home her father built with his own hands. She was the second class to graduate from the newly built, Alameda High School in 1962. She married Anthony Budzitowski, in Denver, Colorado on May 9, 1963, and they moved to Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, North Dakota as newlyweds. Their first child, Cabrina, “Kerrie”, was born on March 28, 1965. After Tony was deployed to Thailand, Sandy and Kerrie returned home to Lakewood. Upon Tony’s return, they purchased their one and only home on Jay Street in Lakewood. On January 11, 1970, Ronald Budzitowski was born. Sandy was a stay-at-home mom, while the children were small. She made extra income for the family by babysitting and selling crafts. Once the children were older, she began working as a Chapter 1 Reading Tutor for Jefferson County Public Schools. She had an amazing ability to make everyone around her feel special. She was an avid crafter and gardener and enjoyed people watching and late-night reading. She loved to socialize with her long-time lunch groups like, “The Cheery Chicks,” and “The Alameda Girls.” Later in life, she was known for her bright pink painted front door and her little green Kia she nicknamed “Sweet Pea.” She enjoyed her neighbors and friends immensely. She was the best mom and grandmother ever and loved each of her five grandbabies fiercely. She was always smiling and was the most selfless, caring person you would ever meet! She is survived by her daughter Kerrie Trovinger (John), her son Ron Budzitowski, her grandsons, Luke, Jake, and Zeb Trovinger, her granddaughters, Allisyn and Makenna Budzitowski, her siblings Gary Drotar (Reba), and Steven Drotar, her nephews Michael Swayde (Jessica), Jason Alder (Kendra), Jesse Drotar (Casey) and her nieces Michelle Dewey (George), Debbie Barry (John), Stephanie Brieske (Ryan), Heather Hall (Daniel), and Jennifer Tennyson (Travis). She is preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Budzitowski, and her sister, Sheryl Alder, and her brother-in-law, Russell Alder. Services to celebrate Sandy’s life will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 10:00 am at Advantage Runyan Stevenson located at 6425 W. Alameda Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that children's books be donated to local libraries or schools in her name. She made our hearts very happy!