Sandra Dulcie WILLIAMS

1944 - 2022

Passed away suddenly on February 16, 2022 in Barrie, Ontario after a brief illness. Her family and friends are heartbroken. Born in Hereford, England on the summer solstice, June 21, 1944, to Dulcie Capes and Trevor Burland, Sandra emigrated to Canada with her family at age 13, settling in Ontario. Sandra is survived by her husband Robert Gordon Williams, her sisters Sheridan Westwood and Andrea Francis (Everette), her daughters Lynda Lawrence (Don) and Lorraine Neal, her stepchildren Annette Williams (Chris) and Karl Williams, her grandchildren Kyla Wong (Paul John), Bryna Lawrence, Derrick Lawrence (Jezza), and Kaden Swallow, her step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sandra is predeceased by her parents and her stepson Glenn Williams (Jodi Decker). She is dearly missed by many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends.
Sandra often said she liked to do things in twos: for example, she married the same man twice and, by pure happenstance, purchased the same house twice. Never seen in public without her perfectly coiffed hair and dainty ringlets, her signature floral dresses, little black boots or cute rosebud sandals, Sandra was stylish, dignified and always and forever a lady. She is the only person we know who could step out of a camper on a road trip at age 70 looking like the glamorous movie star she was to us, complete with her adored little dog clutched in her arms.
Admittedly not a fan of cooking, Sandra's fastidious attention to cleanliness and order made up for that in spades - her beautiful magazine-worthy home would put any to shame. When told to tidy their rooms, her grandchildren would ask, 'regular clean or Grandma clean?' There really was a difference. In summer, Sandra loved tending to her flowers and gardens and doing her exercises in the pool, always with her pink pool noodle (which no one else was allowed to use). Some of our fondest memories of Sandra involve family and friends around the pool; it brought out the fun, the silly, and the eternal spark in Sandra's eyes. In winter, on the other hand, Sandra loved to complain about the snow and the cold, browse artisan shows and go for tea with her sister, daughter, and nieces, counting down the days till spring. Her deep love for family was her shining light. While she may have occasionally disagreed with her children's choices, her grandchildren could do no wrong, whatsoever. Five foot two eyes of blue, Sandra always took pride in keeping herself trim and fit and gorgeous. As such, her beauty rituals were sacrosanct. She was not 'a morning person' (after all, her hair rollers were in place till noon). Making plans with Sandra meant that anytime before 2 p.m. was quite simply and quite utterly out of the question. In their younger years, Sandra and Robert could tear up a rug like no one else - Friday evenings out were tradition (their kids banked on those free-for-all nights when 'the parents' were on date night). Sandra loved to twirl and dance like the belle of the ball that she was. She adored Elvis, so we are playing Love Me Tender in her memory. An avid reader, Sandra was a frequent flier at the local library. Trips to Chapters, especially around the boxing day sales ('25% off, let's go!'), were special outings shared with family. She was never without a good novel and a cute bookmark to match (never dogear a page!) Much to her children's and grandchildren's frustration, Sandra was one of the last holdouts eschewing technology like online banking and Google, but in recent years she surprised us all with her texting acumen and Facebook posts. Like most everyone, Sandra's life was not without its challenges. Yet even during more difficult times, she demonstrated fortitude and grace and humility. 'You just have to get on with it.'
Anyone who met Sandra immediately succumbed to her authenticity and charm - she had that rare knack for making people feel special. She cared deeply and listened intently, forming indelible bonds that will never be forgotten. She had no patience for mean spiritedness. A truer, kinder soul you will be hard pressed to find. Sweetheart, Mumsie, Sis, Grandma, Auntie, Cousin, Dear Friend: we miss you terribly. We love you forever. Our lives will never be the same. A Celebration of Life will be held this summer, Sandra's favourite season, on a date TBA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, or your preferred charity. Arrangements entrusted to Drury Funeral Centre, Alliston. 705-435-3535