Sandra Vogel

Sandra Austin Vogel, 78, of Newington, passed away peacefully at home on September 30, 2025, surrounded by her family. Sandra, known as "Mimi" to her close family, will be remembered for her loving heart, quick wit, and enduring strength. Born on October 7, 1946, Sandra grew up seeing the world. In childhood she traveled with her father, Air Force Sgt. Harold Austin, her mother, Rose, and her siblings to Johnston Island in the South Pacific before the family relocated to Wethersfield, Connecticut. These early experiences fostered a lifelong love of travel that she shared joyfully with her own family. She took countless vacations to Disney World, enjoyed winter escapes on cruises with her husband, and journeys across the globe with her extended family. Most recently, traveling with her grandson and family to the Fjords of Norway and the glaciers of Alaska brought her immense joy. Above all, nothing provided greater happiness than her beloved grandson, Hunter Kendall. For the past eight years, Hunter was her source of strength and the focus of her boundless love. A graduate of the University of Connecticut majoring in English, Sandra loved to apply her sharp mind at family Trivial Pursuit nights, Scrabble games with her sister, and cruise ship trivia with her daughter and nephews. She was an avid reader and devoted fan of British dramas and mysteries. Sandra was predeceased by her parents Harold and Rose Austin, her brother, Robert Austin, and her brother-in-law, Raymond Reynolds Jr. She is survived by her husband, Donald; her daughter, Erica Kendall, and her husband, Alex; and her grandson, Hunter. She also leaves behind her sister, Barbara Reynolds; her sister, Rosemary Gordon, and her husband, Gregory; her nephews Brendan Gordon and his wife, Catherine; Erik Reynolds and his wife, Allyson; Michael Reynolds and his wife, Jennifer; her nephews Christopher and Craig MacKinnon. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Saturday, October 4th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington. The gathering will begin on Sunday, October 5th at 10:00 a.m. at Newington Memorial followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations in Sandra's honor may be made to the Semper Fi & America's Fund (www.thefund.org), an organization close to Sandra's heart, in her memory.