Sandra Wood
Alton |
Sandra L. Wood, 73, died at 8:35 p.m. Friday, December 3, 2010 in Alton. Born February 5, 1937 in Pittsburgh, PA, she was the daughter of Paul and Margaret (Taylor) Wood. Sandy graduated from Allegheny College majoring in French. She raised her family in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Alton. She had lived in Alton since 1972.
Sandy worked for many years for the St. Louis Board of Education in the testing and evaluation group, trying to improve the education of all students. She was an active, involved participant in life; she was always about the people. She loved people and loved helping people, often opening her house to people in need, including the mural artist painting the side of the Riverbend Head Start and Family Services building, the actors for the Lewis & Clark re-enactment and a collection of organic farmers who needed a place to stay. These people shared their lives with Sandy and she shared hers with them. Sandy loved to help others and was a selfless, open-hearted, hopeful, positive person. She was active in a number of environmental organizations and causes. She was a member of the local chapter of the Sierra Club and the Nature Institute. She worked with both groups to plant and manage the Heartland Prairie at Gordon Moore Park. She served on the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club and also worked on the newsletter and led hikes during every full moon for about 15 years. She was known for her famous lemonade she made with an antique lemon squeezer for club events. The Alton area branch of the Sierra Club will honor her on December 18th, the date she was to lead an effort to help the National Audubon Society. In addition to her environmental work, Sandy was an active member of the League of Women Voters and served as the Alton Democratic Committeeman for Precinct 22. Sandy had lived in her Alton neighborhood for nearly 20 years and enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and having tea parties with them under an oak tree in the front yard.
Her family will miss her dearly as will the many friends and strangers she touched with her kindness and hope. Although taken from us too early we all were better for knowing her. She lived her life as an example to others; one day at a time, giving hope, friendship and love to everyone she met.
Sandy is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law; Richard D. and Moira Edelman of San Jose, CA, Mark N. and Jill Edelman of Fremont, CA and Paul H. and Debby Edelman of Alton, seven grandchildren; Patrick and Natalie Edelman, Claire, Graham and Connor Edelman and Jane and Eve Edelman, one brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Christel Wood of Guam, one sister, Penny Riegle of Toronto and a niece, Leah Riegle of Germany.
A memorial visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until time of memorial service at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton.
Memorials may be made to the Sierra Club-Piasa Palisades, 223 Market St., Alton, IL 62002.
Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com
Gent Funeral Home
