Sandra Agatha (Person) Garinger was born on November 19, 1955 in Melfort, SK to Cecil Person and Lena (Person) Peters.
Sandra was the 3rd child of 9 children, raised on the family farm 12 miles west of Pontrilas, SK in the Ratner district. She went to Murphy Creek School until Grade 4, walking to school with her brothers and sisters. The rest of her education was in Gronlid, SK where she graduated in 1973.
Sandra was baptized and confirmed at the Beaver Creek Lutheran Church where she also attended Sunday School.
Sandra was very athletic and when teams were being picked, even the boys wanted her on their team. This love for sports continued in her married years with Ray as they played softball and broomball. As well they enjoyed watching hockey, football, curling and baseball with friends and family. Sandra took a bookkeeping course after high school. She used this training to take care of Ray’s drywalling business and their personal taxes.
Sandra met Ray in 1973 at a party in Ridgedale where they instantly clicked. It was almost like it was “love at first sight” and before long they were going steady.
On April 2, 1975, their first child Renee April was born. Sandra and Ray were married on April 9, 1977 at the Beaver Creek Lutheran Church. Their second child Michael Ryan arrived the following year on May 5.
Sandra’s children were the world to her and she would dote on them bringing Renee and Mike their lunch in front of the TV as well as being a cheerleader at all their hockey and ringette games.
Sandra had various jobs over the years- a cashier at Southside Grocery, a waitress at the Choiceland Corner, coffee row and the hotel; and also babysat and cleaned at Choiceland C.U.
Sandra was a real outdoorsy person from a young age. She helped with the gardening and the animals on the farm. Sandra loved gardening, her pets, cooking, baking, canning and crafting. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. She loved to shop for them and always had goodies for them. She spent endless hours playing and crafting with them.
Sandra fought a courageous battle with COPD for several years. After Ray “the love of her life” passed away, Sandra was heartbroken and the disease progressively got worse.
Sandra is predeceased by her husband Ray, her father Cecil Person, her brothers Ken and Lyndon, her father in law Alfred Garinger, and brother in laws Jim Garinger and Nick Auriti.
Sandra is survived by her children Renee (Jason) and Michael (Aimee), grandchildren Nicholas, Mitchell, Kennedy and Noah, her mother Lena, sisters Judy, Zelda (Dave) and Theresa (Curtis), brothers Randy (Karen), Calvin and Jamey (Angelyn), mother in law Helen, sister in laws Margaret, Myrna (Eldon) and Marylou (Jerry), brothers in law Gordon (Rita) and Terry (Gaylene) and numerous nieces and nephews.