Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Sandra Sindorf Life Sketch

This is a first for me, posting a life sketch of a church member on my blog. If you access it, leave me a comment and let me know.

Sandra Jane (Lott, Rogers) Sindorf

June 3, 1936 – December 5, 2007

Sandra Jane (Lott, Rogers) Sindorf was born on June 3, 1936 in Susanville, California. She passed to her rest on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 in Redding, California. She was 71 years, 6 months and 2 days old.
She is survived by her husband, Ron Sindorf of Redding, California and by the 7 children of their blended family: Her daughters; Shelly Rogers of Redding, California; Kendra Lee and her husband Grover of Medford, Oregon; and by one son, Barry Rogers and his wife Kelly, whereabouts unknown.
Sandra also is survived by Ron’s four children: Katherine Canto and her husband Matthew of Redding, California, Karen Scott of Shasta Lake City, California; Kurt Sindorf of Avenal, California and by Carol Sindorf of Suisuin City, California.
Sandra got to be a Grandma to 8 wonderful grandchildren: Madison and Nathan Lee; Heather Canto, Cory Canto and Heidi Sindorf; Nick and Jenny Scott ; and Cody Sindorf. She leaves 3 great-grandchildren: Jamie Canto, Dillon and Taryn Sindorf.
She also leaves behind a brother-in-law in Fred Sindorf (Ron’s Brother) and his wife Mary of Klamath Falls, Oregon and 3 current or former sister-in-law’s: Shirley Ann Boyd (Ron’s Sister) of Redding, California; Valerie Perkins (her brother Jack’s former wife) of Roseburg, Oregon and Alice Rogers (her first husband’s sister) of Portland, Oregon. Sandra also is survived by many nieces and nephews on both sides of her family.
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Sandra was born on June 3, 1936. She was the youngest of two children born to her parents, V.D. Lott and Anna Lou Alexander. She had an older big brother, Jack Lott. He preceded her in death some years ago, passing away at the age of 56 from Leukemia.
She spent her childhood in various places in the state of California, including a brief stint as a small girl in Redding. Ron says he met Sandra at that time. He was best friends with Jack Lott, Sandra’s brother. They were very mature 1st or 2nd graders at the time Of course Ron would not have noticed Sandra then – she was a cootie-filled, kid-sister - and probably only about 3 years old at the time.
Sandra later went to Modesto Union Academy and took some college courses at San Jose State. About the age of 22, Sandra married Raymond Rogers. And who should be the best man at the wedding but…Ron Sindorf, the groom’s close friend. Ron and his first wife and Sandra and her first husband would visit in each other’s homes on occasion during the 9 years Sandra and Raymond were married. They had three children together. Life was good.
But then tragedy struck Sandra’s home. Raymond was operating heavy equipment and grading a steep slope, when the machine did the unthinkable. It rolled over, killing Raymond. Sandra instantly became a single mom of three children, and a widow at the age of 31.
4 years went by, and Sandra worked hard to keep her children’s tuition paid at the local church school. She didn’t know it, but soon Ron was single again. They got to talking, one thing let to another, and 6 months later they tied the knot. July 22, 1972 was their special day! They created a love for each other that has endured the ups and downs of the next thirty-five and a half years.
Shortly after they got married and set up housekeeping in Redding, Ron was working hauling heavy equipment in California and Oregon. They bought a small pick-up, outfitted it with the lights and flags necessary to be a pilot-car, and Sandra was hired on as the driver. They would make the delivery, then Ron would load the little truck on the low-bed trailer, and Sandy could enjoy a long nap all the way home! They worked together this way, sometimes putting in 16 hour days, for 3 years, and then Sandy still worked as a pilot car driver for O’Hare Construction for another 4 years, until 1979.
Later, Sandra worked in the front office of two local dentists: Dr. Heinrich and Dr. McDonald; then she worked for 4 years as a teacher’s aid at Juniper School.
Sandra loved the craft and art of quilting. She made many full size quilts and “dog blankets” (small quilts) that she would give to family or use around the home. One of those quilts kept her warm upon her death bed.
Sandra was also a wonderful cook. She also loved to find new recipes and try them out. She had a special fondness for anything with chocolate!
Sandra loved and supported her church. Her mother was active in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and Sandra joined as a young girl. For years, she was active in Sabbath School, both with the children and the adult divisions. She was head deaconess, and in charge of the hospitality dinners for visiting guests and for receptions after funerals. She helped with the logistics of pictorial directories, phone calling; the list goes on and on. If something needed to be done, Sandra would help to do it.
Attending Redwood Camp Meeting with friends was a fixture event for many years. She enjoyed the many meetings, and the evenings in the camp with a set of dominoes, playing Mexican Train. Sandra was a skilled player. At home through out the year, there were many Saturday nights with friends playing table games and enjoying the smiles and laughter of this social time.
In retirement, Ron and Sandra hit the road again. They traveled extensively, with two trips to Alaska, two trips across the width of Canada, The Eastern States, Arizona, Oregon, etc.. Ron remembers a trip where the odometer said they traveled 12,500 miles in 3 months.
The last 4 years have been the hard years: the shock of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis; the grief that this brought; the loss of physical ability and mental acuity. It’s been hard. It’s been hard on her, it’s been hard on Ron and the rest of the family. But that’s the way life can be - Hard. You take the good and the bad. It has been a testimony of marriage commitment and human love to see Ron, day after day, love and care for his wife Sandra. 35 and a half years ago they said “Till death do us part.” And now that day has come.
Today we recognize the fact that her “departure” leaves an empty place, a void, in life and heart. But we also give God praise that death has brought an end of Sandra’s disabilities and suffering. For Sandra, death has come as a good thing. It’s time for her to rest. She had 26,117 days of life. The last 1,460 of them (4 years) were not pleasant. The next day she’ll enjoy…will be awesome. The next thing she will know, with be seeing Jesus as she rises from her grave…to everlasting vigor and vitality.
Sandra has entered the temporary sleep of death. Soon, Jesus will come and call her forth to everlasting life in heaven and on the earth made new. It is the reality of the truth of the resurrection of the dead that gives hope and comfort to us today.
Our lives have been enriched because we have loved and have been loved by her. She has been a Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandma, Aunt, and Friend! She enriched the lives of so many people and she will be truly missed. We place our hope in the resurrection and the reunion that awaits us all in heaven. May God bless us with His comfort and His peace this hour.

Lovingly prepared by Ron Sindorf, along with Pastor O. Kris Widmer

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