Sandra Marie Hansen's Obituary
Sandra Marie Hansen, age 67, passed away peacefully at home on May 5, 2012 and is survived by relatives in Oklahoma. Sandi also leaves behind numerous colleagues, neighbors, adopted family and lifelong friends who will dearly miss her. She was born December 8, 1944 in Burkburnett, Texas to Mitchell James Loyd and Doris Irene Adams and was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on July 14, 1972 at the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dallas, Texas. The strength of her faith helped to guide her through many difficult times in life, and was especially comforting in recent years when her health presented so many challenges. Sandi was beautiful, articulate, athletic and accomplished, talented in so very many ways; gifted actress in community theatre; women’s clothing model; national roller skating champion; caring and deeply committed fund-raiser; director for numerous non-profit organizations including the American Heart Association, Bea’s Kids and Elder Power. The enormity of her personality was driven by her generosity and personal courage. She found family among all she met, opening her home and her heart to all those in need. As a young woman, Sandi shared her talent and love for skating with many young students at numerous venues. Notable among them was the Starlight Roller Rink where she spent countless hours with inexhaustible energy helping her young pupils grow and gain confidence in themselves as much as their skating ability, organizing programs to showcase their blossoming talent, awarding trophies and plaques to encourage their continued growth. She was adored and admired by her students and often took skaters under her wing as her own children. In her later life, Sandi continued to involve herself in her community and especially her neighborhood. She loved attending Dallas Summer Musicals with her “adopted granddaughter”, visiting art exhibits in Dallas and Fort Worth, and listening to the mariachis play at her favorite Mexican food restaurant, El Ranchito, on Jefferson Boulevard. Sandi loved her neighborhood family who cared for her as much as she for them. She hosted Christmas parties where all who came received gifts, and at her own birthday party this past year celebrated by giving gifts to all who came rather than accepting any. All who knew her understood how much Sandi loved dogs, showing her Belgiums nationally and internationally, and rescuing her more recently beloved housemates from the streets. She leaves Gavi and Missy behind. They truly found a bird’s nest on the ground when they found a home with Sandi. Knowing her love for animals, it seems certain she would appreciate that donations be made in her memory to the SPCA or other animal shelters in lieu of flowers. Services are planned for Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Restland Funeral Home.
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