Sandra Jean Francis

Sandra Jean Francis, 76, passed from this life peacefully February 6 surrounded by her daughters, Abigail and Amanda Franis and her husband, Richard Stratton at her home in Hanover, Maine.

Sandra was the middle daughter of William and Ruth Farnum. She was born February 11, 1949 in St. Paul, MN where her father was completing his education following military service in WWII. The family moved east and settled in Connecticut, first in New Britain, then Plainville and finally Simsbury where Sandra graduated in 1967. She graduated from Connecticut College, Phi Beta Cappa, with a major in religion in 1971.

After college she married Robert Francis, a classmate from high school and together they had four children, Abigail, Matthew, Adam and Amanda after settling in their home in North Canton. Sandra worked for many years at Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. (now Cigna) in Bloomfield. After her youngest, Amanda was old enough for child care, she was employed by the McLean Home in Simsbury as their first full time person focusing on using computers in healthcare. Sandra worked at McLean from 1989 until 2006.

It was at McLean that Sandra met her current husband, Richard Stratton. Together they purchased a piece of land in Hanover, Maine, along the Androscoggin River in1999. In 2000 they built a log cabin so they could use the property before they retired. Dick's first cousin, Lewis Stratton, was the primary builder along with her sons, Matt and Adam who assisted. Eventually Sandi and Dick decided to add an addition to the cabin and make it their permanent home. They have lived in that home from 2007 until now.

Sandra has always been an active participant in the community wherever she lived, whether it be parent school activities, town gatherings and particularly church. Sandra was a cherished member of the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel.Sandra is survived by her sister, Susan Thompson of Old Saybrook, CT, her four children and their families, Abigail, Matthew, Adam and Amanda, their partners and three grandchildren, Alessandra, Andrea and Paige. She is also survived by Dick's three children and two grandchildren, Daniel and Emily.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00pm, February 22nd at West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. In lieu of flowers the family asks for gifts to be made to the Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry.