Sandra Jane Spitzer (Sandy) was born February 1st 1957 in Waukegan, Illinois to young newlyweds Sam Huston Spitzer and Sarah Rhoda Leech. Sandy lived her early childhood as an only child her sisters, Donna and Sylvia, coming along when she was 11 and 14 perspectively. Donna dubbed Susie and Sylvia to be called Tina - these nicknames weren’t aliases but the real mccoy - and at Sandy's hand. She had a knack for pet names, and if she loved you no doubt she created one for you and she loved her baby sisters.
Sandy was briefly married to Frank McWilliams in the 1970’s but the “one” that got away was David Farr. A childhood romance that blossomed into an on again off again love affair that lasted decades.
The unambiguous truth of Sandys life: to be Mandy's mom. That’s all need be said.
A lifelong Cubs fan, she was overcome by the team finally “going all the way” in 2016 and in equal parts heartbroken by Hillary Clinton losing the election that year. Sandy didn’t like but loved shows like Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy, Roseanne, Orphan Black, Lost, Parenthood and This is Us. The music she adored is too numerous to mention (and if she liked a song she would play it over and over and over again … sometimes to the point of frustration … ask Stacey how many times we all watched The Temptations movie?) Still it would be a mistake to not mention her love of Fleetwood Mac and how seeing live the intact band of Stevie, LIndsey, Mick, John and Christine was such a fulfillment of a dream that she got the cataract surgery she desperately needed and was deeply afraid of to see the show. She loved Diana Ross, The Temptations, Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, George Michael, Billy Joel, Tom Petty … to name a few.
Second to Mandy, possibly equal were the pets that filled her heart with abounding joy. Her long passed dogs Leasha Bell, Blue, and Darcy. The cats, so beloved that their birth and deaths are written in her Bible: Baby Doll (Cleopatra) August 1973 - January 1984, Emma June 2005 - November 2009 and most lauded sweet Ducky October 1992 - Sept 2012. Ducky, a pet that she adored for 20+ years brought her so much joy and whose death I think she never recovered from. She loved that cat unapologetically with her whole heart.
Sandy should be here to see how much she is loved, something that was hard sometimes to convey to her - she left us suddenly and unforgivably too soon. Still, we can take comfort that she is no longer in chronic pain, her heart too big to literally hold her life and loves is now at peace.
At the rainbow bridge, Ducky was waiting to affirm Sandy will never be alone again. Together forever, forever in grace … she is feeling only the love now.
Celebration of Life Funeral Service to be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 21 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd, Machesney Park. Visitation will be at 3 p.m. until time of service. Please share a condolence at www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com
https://www.gofundme.com/sandyspitzermemorial
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18