Sandra Kwapy Obituary

In my youth I was friends with Paul and Bill. I had and have many other friends who were also 'reaised' by Sandy. Her imprint on them was obious in their humor and sense of fun. I believe they had a hand in teaching me to laugh at my self and the world around me. I have passed this on to my children.

I would be very interested in getting in touch with Paul and Bill, but also family friend Ben Johnson. I can be reached aat [email protected].

Rest in peace Sandy.

I'm not sure what the etiquette rules are for a "Guest Book Entry", but, my guess is that it would not matter to Sandy if I did it "their" way or not! However, if the proper thing to do first is to send my most heartfelt respect and condolences to her family, then, please, each of you, know how much you are in my thoughts at this time. I am terribly sorry for your loss. More on this later...





What I felt like I needed to do first was to speak to you, Sandy. I love and respect you so much. I hope I remembered to say it as often as I felt it and I hope you heard me each time I did. You are an inspiration in my life. You were the original domestic Goddess! (You never did get to teach me how to apply those eyelashes!) I will never forget all the recipe sharing and visits over the cookbooks and Enquirers! Chicken-What-The-Hell will always be one of my favorite recipes!
You were there for me and my kids when there were just the four of them and life was kicking our butts. Your time and guidance helped shaped them into the people that they are today. Tarryn, 24, Zakary, 21, Kiralae, 20 and Jacy 19 are all building families and lives that are productive and good.
I am so grateful that you and I have been able to spend time together recently and that you got to know the other six that you didn't get (have!) to babysit! Jennifer, 25, my foster daughter is living a good life with her husband and little boy. Shayne's (14) aspirations to be a chef will always come seasoned with the memory of his first stock pot that you gave him and his first pot of homemade chicken soup, that he gave you in return! Arielle, (13) loves the gossip rags you handed down, and the way you included her in conversations like she was just as important as everyone else. The little ones, Emmalie, 4, Zoey, 2 and Caden, 9 mos. appreciate your generosity, sharing your lollipops! (The ones we snuck into your drawer so you would have the stash to share from- wink!)





Trips to the grocery store haven't been the same for me, since I found out you were gone. We shared a passion for food and entertaining and I will think of you and miss you at every holiday and gathering. I hope you are finally reaping the rewards that you so diligently earned in this lifetime. Your honesty, wit, patience and common sense were superhuman. If only that had been enough to keep you well forever. I am so sorry you ever suffered at all. I wish for you only peace and belly laughs for eternity.





Thanks for all the chats about your life experiences and sharing your wisdom. Thanks for sticking by me no matter what crazy, unexpected, chaotic thing life threw at me and the kids. Thanks for your honesty and understanding about the foibles of the human existence. Thanks for being willing to answer the hard questions and help me steer so I don't have to go through all the things you already learned. I trust you. My mother, my compadre, my friend. What will I do without being able to dial (7-1-9) 4-7-5-9-9-8-2 from anywhere in the country and hear...."HAAAL-LO"?





I miss you. Thanks for EVERYTHING. As I told you everytime we spoke.. you are LOVED.





Chris, David, Paul and Bill:





Your Mom was SO PROUD of you! Never a conversation went by when she didn't have something to share about one or all of you. I don't know how often she told you, except in her own Sandy way, but, even if she did, please allow me to relay for her once again how much she loves you and knows what great people you are. It is rare in my travels to find a Mom so willing to recount "the stories" of a family's real life. No details went unspoken, be they physical, emotional or spiritual. She really understood and it mattered to her that she be there for you. She just BEAMED when she spoke of each of you. Then and now. You guys really gave her something to be there for and about every single day. It has been many years since I've spoken to most of you, yet, I feel as if I still know each of you. I cannot even imagine the loss you are feeling and if there were anyway I could lessen it for you, I would. All I can offer is to continue to be the kind of Mom to my kids and friend to my friends that your Mom encouraged and modeled for me to be. I will follow her example.





I wish you and your families each the very best of all things, and happy memories of your beautiful Sandy.





Attached, I've included here some pictures taken back in 1986, from a big Halloween party that your Mom and I used to talk about all the time. I am fuzzy on whether this was the same party that was her surprise birthday or if those were two different ones. I remember showing up on Halloween night, for this one, it was snowing... First snow of the season of course. Me and the kids came in. Tarryn was 4, a gyspy, Zak was 1, an aborigine and Kiralae was 2 months, an elf. Zak snuck in under your Mom's arm and when she stopped to count heads, she couldn't find him in the room. She had to do a triple-take, when she realized the little African American boy in the foyer was actually Zak! She nearly wet her pants laughing over that one, and we laughed together over that story DOZENS of times over the years. I'm glad to get to share that story with you guys one more time.





If there is anything at all I can do for any of you, ever, please, don't hesitate to call on me. It would be the least I could do to pay your Mom back for all the years she was there for me. No expectations, no judgements. We are all blessed to have shared part of our lives with her.





Thank you Sandy, my dear.

I love you.