October 2, 1943 - July 14, 2021
With profound sadness, the family of Sandra Robinson announces her passing. Sandra was born in Vancouver, BC, the daughter of Eino and Louise Niemi (nee Gauthier).
At the age of 20 she married David in Vancouver. Together they raised three sons and a daughter, and spent 57 wonderful years together.
Due to the work of her engineer husband, they spent a great deal of time on temporary assignments in the Kootenays while Duncan Dam was built, Inuvik, Whitehorse, Northern Saskatchewan, Kitimat and then a 6-year long project in Nigeria. Sandra homeschooled their four children while at the isolated site on the north side of Athabasca Lake.
Relocated to Montreal, with the children mostly in their teens, Sandra finished her junior college and then a humanities degree at Concordia University. She graduated at the age of 62 with honours, which was a great source of pride.
Accompanying her husband, they went to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for two years, followed by two years in the Philippines. They returned to Montreal in 1998. In 2005 they went to Hanoi, Vietnam, where Sandra volunteered to teach a group of young students interested in learning English. The students bonded with her and have kept in touch.
Sandra and her husband relocated to Nanaimo BC in 2008, where they have resided to this day.
Sandra had numerous interests - knitting, weaving, sewing, reading and was involved with St. Paul's Anglican Church.
She loved to travel, and with her husband, vacationed in Europe, Great Britain, Australia, Mexico and the US, including ocean cruises in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. From 2004 to 2017 she spent most winters in their Palm Harbor Florida home.
In 2015 it was discovered that Sandra had Parkinson's disease, which began to restrict her mobility. A lightweight travel scooter allowed her to continue her travels. In the summer of 2020, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. While remaining optimistic, following chemotherapy, a failed surgery procedure left her with only a short time to live. She passed away peacefully in the Palliative Care unit of the NRGH.
Sandra was predeceased by her brother Roger. She is survived by her husband David, sons Kelly (Kimberley), Glenn (Han), Daniel (Beth) and daughter Lisa, grandchildren Gaelle, Carmen, Nathan and Anthony.
Mom will be remembered forever with love and affection by all of her family and many friends.
The family would like to thank the Palliative Center at NRGH and the home care workers of VIHA for their expertise, dedication and compassion.