Sandra Jean Franceschi

1940 - 2025

Sandra (Sandy) Jean Franceschi
December 2, 1940 - August 1, 2025
On August 1, 2025, long time Sonoma County resident Sandy Franceschi passed away at the age of 84. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Sandy was born in Oakland, California on December 2, 1940. Her parents were Henry and Alice Van Ness. She was the youngest of two children, and when she was three years old her family moved to Sebastopol. One of her favorite memories as a child involved her pet duck named Puddles. Two of her friends also had ducks, and the three of them would put harnesses on their ducks and take them on walks in downtown Sebastopol.

Sandy attended Analy High School where she was in the marching band and also editor of the school paper. At 17 she worked at the Sebastopol Times as the Society Editor, writing about club meetings and weddings.

Sandy married her husband, Geno, on September 24, 1960, in Reno. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in 2023 before Geno's passing in January 2024. Sandy was a homemaker for her three children, where she was a den mother for the Boy Scouts, a 4-H leader, and a soccer mom.

Sandy was a gifted and creative artist who loved to paint, with many of her paintings hanging on family member's walls today. For many years she painted Christmas scenes on several storefront windows in downtown Forestville. She was a talented writer and enjoyed writing and illustrating custom books for her grandchildren. Sandy enjoyed helping decorate her daughter's kindergarten and TK classrooms each year. She also ran a small craft business where she lovingly created handmade bread dough Christmas ornaments, each one a tiny work of art that brightened the holidays for so many.

In her later years, Sandy and Geno traveled in their motor home throughout most of the western states. She spent many days at the family cabin in Lake Tahoe and was also a frequent visitor to several casinos locally and in the Tahoe/Reno area. She was a loving and doting grandmother for her five grandchildren.

In addition to her husband Geno, Sandy was preceded in death by her brother, John Van Ness. She is survived by her sons Don (Elena) and Mark, and her daughter, Lisa Sartori (Rocky). She is also survived by her grandchildren Joey, Marina, Ean, Anna (Kevin) and Tony.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon at Eggen & Lance Chapel, 1540 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401. A private graveside service will follow for immediate family.