Sandra Rodrigues

Sandra Ann Rodrigues, beloved mother, friend, and dedicated community servant, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025 after a long battle with cancer. Sandra grew up within the vibrant walls of the family restaurant – The Fairview Inn – in Brant Rock, Massachusetts. The Fairview's bustling world was run by Sandy's father Patrick, Papa, and mother Pota, known to all as Nana, along with her three sisters Mary, Patty, and Carole. Each sister took away a love of family, cooking and a spirit to serve others from their formative life at The Fairview. Sandy went on to study nursing at Boston College and earned her master's in public health from Boston University that led to a life of service to her faith, her family and her community.

Upon graduation, Sandra served for over a year with Maryknoll Missionaries in Peru providing medical care to rural communities. Throughout her life, she found opportunities to help those in need.

Sandy was devoted to her children: Elizabeth, Michael, Patrick and Bill. Raising four kids as a single mom, Sandy always made sure they had a warm, nutritious, colorful dinner every night despite working a full day. Family celebrations were highlighted by a vast antipasto of Italian meats, cheeses, vegetables, olives and anchovies, accompanied by sausages and peppers and marinated mushrooms, topped off with shrimp scampi or roasted pork. She never broke the cardinal Italian sin of running out of food.

Her career as a community health nurse was fueled by service to others, particularly to infants and their mothers, first in various NICUs and then during her 25+ year career as a Community Health Nurse for the Howard County Health Department. Sandy would intrepidly travel to visit high-risk mothers and their newborns to make sure that the babies were healthy and the moms had the skill and necessities to care for them.

Sandra was a woman of great faith. A life-long member of the Catholic Church, Sandra drew her energy and convictions from her beliefs. She attended daily mass.

Sandra leaves us to rejoin Nana Pota, Papa, her sister Mary, baby Sarah, and all of her many friends and family that have gone before.

Sandra is survived by her sisters Patricia Marma and Carole Duksta, her daughter Elizabeth, sons Michael, Patrick and Bill and her seven grandchildren. She was loved and will be missed.

A visitation for Sandra will be held on Friday, March 14th from 5:30pm-7:00pm at HARRY H. WITZKE'S FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Saturday, March 15th at 11:00am at The Church of the Resurrection Chapel, 3175 Paulskirk Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Internment will follow at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church Cemetery, 1011 Old Court Rd, Woodstock, MD 21163. A reception in Sandra's honor will follow with details to be provided.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Vincent's de Paul courtesy of Resurrection Church which provides emergency assistance to Howard County families and individuals in need with the note it's in Sandra's memory. For donation information and to write online condolences, please visit www.harrywitzkefuneralhome.com.