Sandra Strawn Obituary

SANDRA LEE STRAWN
April 12, 1939 ˜ April 3, 2022

Sandra Lee Strawn was born April 12, 1939, and grew up in Gardena and Riverside, CA. She met her future husband, Dan Strawn, in Riverside at their local high school. Sandra and Dan were married in 1957 and remained so for the rest of her life - nearly 65 years. During that time Sandra bore and raised eight children - Linda, David, Sharon, Darren, Danny, Stephanie, Dale, and Dean. Those eight children resulted in 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Sandra loved and knew each one of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She saw each of them in their uniqueness. This is no small feat. Indeed, it may be heroic - to love so deep and so long for so many.
Her favorite times were going to her grandchildren’s sporting events, dance performances, and drama productions. She spoke to each of her three daughters and five sons regularly and always asked about her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also had a network of friendships - women that she cared about and shared her life with - and a robust professional life that saw her winning Employee of the Year at Lesher Communications, Inc. in 1988.
Sandra loved sports and the way they brought people and communities together. She played on a United States Volleyball Association team, refereed high school basketball and volleyball games, coached her kids’ athletic teams and the local high school basketball team - all while raising eight children. In short, she was connected.
As Sandra and Dan grew old together, not a day went by that she did not want him by her side. She was filled with gratitude for all of life’s gifts - taking joy in exploring new places, connecting with nature, and appreciating good food, art, and history, all with the people she loved.
The force of Sandra’s love and connection with her family built a legacy of mothers and fathers who knew what it looked like to love their children. The gift of this legacy will bear fruit for generations.
In her last waking moments, she openly marveled at the impact of the love that had sustained her across a rich, complex, challenging, and beautiful life. Even as we wept at her bedside, she showed us what true love looked like.
Sandra Lee Strawn died at 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2022. We were unbelievably lucky to have her and will miss her always.
If you would like to make a donation in Sandra’s honor, please do so at www.stjude.org/donate
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