Scott’s speech at Sandra’s Celebration of Life, September 13, 2025

Hello everyone. Thank you so much for coming today. We are here to celebrate the life of my mom, Sandra. Your presence means so much to Lara and I. To those who could not attend today we appreciate you reaching out prior to express your love and condolences.

I want to start off by thanking everyone who has helped us out with getting everything organized and helped us figure out what to do and where to go and who took care of our dogs when needed. So thank you so much to Gayle, Terry, Chris, Melissa and Erin, we would have been even more lost without you. And thank you to the Legion and especially Barney for his help, for the use of the hall, and the ladies auxiliary for making the beautiful food.

I also wanted to thank everyone who has come to support us today. I know many of you came from farther away, so I am very grateful that you were able to make it. Your love and support means so much.

It’s no secret that we are all missing mom, but I really feel that mom would not want us to be sad that she is not with us. She would want us to remember all the happy times that we had with her, and how much her love and kindness lifted us all up. She would want us to remember all the laughter, and the love we all shared. And the baking! I’m sure many of you remember some of the amazing desserts she made over the years, pies and cakes and other treats – she even baked our wedding cake, 20 years ago!

Mom loved to be with her family as much as she could. Whether it was at the cottage celebrating with Grandpa and Grandma Thomas, her aunts and uncles and cousins, her sisters, and many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and grand nephews, or going on trips with her sisters, like when they went to see Jerzy Boys together, driving down to London to visit with myself, Lara, and her grand pups, mom loved to be with her favourite people. She also had a close bond with her friends Alice, Gayle and Joan and co-workers from Alexandra Marine and General Hospital and would often tell me all about her adventures with them, even if it was just going into town for lunch. 

My mom was the kind of person that was always there for anybody that needed her help, especially Lara and I. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her love, help and understanding.

Even though I miss her every day, I am thankful she is no longer in pain. Mom, I hope you are with Grandma and Grandpa now, and other family members that have passed before her, and I hope our Willow and Benny gave you lots of beagle kisses when you got there. I love you mom, and I will never stop missing you.

Thanks to everyone. I will now invite mom’s sisters, Gayle, Terry and Chris to come up and say a few words. I would also invite anyone else who wants to share their favourite memories of my mom to come and say a few words.

My mom liked to show love to her family and friends by cooking and baking for them, and we invite you to have some delicious food in her honour.