Dec. 26, 2017 – Our dear mother and sister, Sandra, peacefully entered Heaven on Dec. 22, 2017. She was surrounded by her family as she rejoined with her husband Kenneth, who preceded her in death in 1994.
Born in Chicago, Illinois on May 16, 1941 to the late William and Stella (Kurek) Radochonski, Sandra was the oldest of 4 children. She graduated from St. Catherine of Siena High School in 1959 and then St. Anne’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1962.
Sandra became a registered nurse and continued to work at St. Anne’s following her graduation. Her dedication to hard work and efficiency made her both well respected and admired in her position as a head nurse at the hospital. Sandra’s career in nursing led her to meeting Kenneth, the love of her life and husband of 30 years.
They were married in 1963 and started a family in Chicago and later settled in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Sandra was always fun loving, and shared many good times with friends and family. She was adventuresome and spirited. As a mom, she was active in her children’s scouting pursuits serving both as a den mother and girl scout leader. She enjoyed sewing and cooking and really anything that would bring her to a laugh.
Sandra was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1978. Although she underwent many treatments, including experimental options, her disease course was progressive and chronic. While the disease stole her physical and later communicative capabilities, her eyes and laugh continued to warm the hearts of those around her.
Sandra is survived by her son Kenneth Jr. (Susan) and daughters Kay Marie, Cynthia (Jeff) Victor and Victoria (Peter) Syslack; grandchildren – Nina, Joseph, Ava, Miranda, Annika and Kendall; and brothers William Rand, John Rand and sister Mary Jane (Matthew) Hojnacki.
A very special thank you to the staff at Cedar Community, Sandra’s home for 23 years. You were a special part of our family in caring for Sandra all these years. We all share the joy for Sandra to now walk, dance and tell the stories that have been silenced inside her for too long.
Visitation for Sandra will be Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 at 3 p.m. with a funeral service at 4:30 p.m. at Schmidt Funeral Home 629 Cedar St. West Bend Wisconsin. There will also be an interment service at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles, Illinois on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 at 11 a.m.
Memorials to Cedar Community Foundation are appreciated.