Sandra P. "Sandi" Holmes

Sandra P. "Sandi" (Chappas) Holmes, 64, of Manchester, loving wife of 40 years to Howard M. "Mick" Holmes, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, with her family at her side, following a seven-year journey with cancer.

Sandra was born on July 16, 1948, in Lowell, Mass., daughter of the late Bella (Moge') Chappas and Nicholas G. Tsapatsaris. She lived in Dracut, Mass., for a short time before moving to Manchester with her family. She was raised here, attended local schools, and graduated from Manchester High School class of 1966. Upon graduating, Sandi accepted a secretarial position at Holmes Funeral Home, where she worked for seven years and was then a stay-at-home mom to raise her family. Her working career was started again in the late 1980s. She was employed for several years as secretary for the Church of the Assumption School, Manchester; worked at CVS North Main Street store, Manchester, in the greeting card section; and most recently worked several years at Hallmark Creations, Glastonbury.

Sandi was an excellent cook and baker and enjoyed feeding her family home-cooked meals and entertaining with food. Sandi was a lover of the outdoors and enjoyed working in her numerous gardens at her home. Roses by far were her favorite, and she doted over them each year. She was a member of the Manchester Garden Club and enjoyed visiting the garden tours in town. She loved crafting and had many hobbies, including most recently quilting. Many family and friends were given a gift of a handmade quilt by Sandi, with a signature on the back side as a remembrance. Sandi was formerly a member of the Glastonbury Piecemakers. She was affectionately known and called "Grandmother" by her four grandchildren, whom she looked forward to seeing as much as possible. She was a communicant of St. Bridget Church.

Sandra is survived by her loving husband, Howard; her caring children, Karen M. Reinhold and her husband, Mark, and their children, Lukas and Mikah of Manchester, N.H., Matthew H. Holmes of Vernon, and Philip N. Holmes and his wife, Shannon, and their children, Bailey and Grady of Ellington. Also surviving are three sisters, Louise Finni of Manchester, Lynda Cianciolo and her husband, Andrew, of New Hartford, and Zena Keller and her husband, James, of Manchester; several nieces and nephews and their families; her stepmother, Zena Tsapatsaris, and her son, Timothy, of Manchester; and several aunts, numerous cousins, and their families. Her extended family of survivors includes her loving sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Donna and Donald Maloney, Sharon Holmes, Richard and Susan Holmes, Gregory and Eva Holmes, and Mark and Lori Holmes and their families; and many close friends and neighbors.

Her family thanks Upendra Hegde, M.D., all office personnel and treatment room nurses at the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, UConn Health Center for their compassion and dedication to Sandra. Also, her family thanks Dr. Leopold and the nurses at the John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center for their compassion and caring; and the nurses of the Visiting Nurse and Health Services, North Central Hospice, especially Carolina, Janet, and Judy.

Calling hours will be Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, at 11 a.m. at St. Bridget Church, 80 Main St., Manchester. Please go directly to church. Burial will follow in Buckland Cemetery, Manchester.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030; John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center, 100 Haynes St., Manchester, CT 06040; Visiting Nurse and Health Service North Central Hospice, 8 Keynote Drive, Vernon, CT 06066; or St. Bridget Church, 80 Main St., Manchester, CT 06040.

To sign the online guestbook, visit

www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com