Obituary of Sandra Marlene Dinning

Sandra Marlene Dinning: November 3, 1943 to February 27, 2017 Born in Strathroy, Ontario to Gus and Adeline Dinning (née Huber), Sandra passed away peacefully due to pneumonia. She was 73. She is survived by her partner Bill Lyons, and her six siblings: brothers Bob (Marge), Ron, and Jim (Pat), and her sisters Linda (Russ), Elma (Jim), and Verlyn. Sandra was “Auntie Sandy” to ten nieces and nephews—Gregory, Christopher, Paul, Jessica, Erin, John, Sean, Bob Jr., Ron, and Rick—and also to their children: James, Liam, Olivia, Lexi, Hailey, Catherina, Sam, Chloe, Oliver, Abigail, and Benjamin. She was the matriarch of a family who hosted Christmas dinners for her siblings and their kids for some 20 years. She never missed a birthday, or an opportunity to make a bawdy joke. Her laugh was contagious. Her spirit was magnanimous. They all loved her, not to mention her cabbage rolls, shrimp dip, and roast chicken dinners, and will miss her terribly. Sandra loved to knit—the sweaters, socks, and blankets she crafted for her loved ones will be cherished—and to read. If she didn’t have her nose buried in a the latest Maeve Binchy novel, she was watching one of her favourite British television shows. For many years, she and Bill tended an enviable backyard garden whose bounty of cherry tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, watermelon, and wild asparagus was always shared. She worked at Northern Life, in London, Ontario for decades before finding meaningful employment at Joseph Kovacs Insurance Brokers in Strathroy, where she remained until her retirement. Sandra was also a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Strathroy. Please join us in celebrating Sandy’s life on Friday, March 3 at DENNING’S OF STRATHROY (32 Metcalfe St. W, Strathroy, Ont.) from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. An additional visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday with the funeral to follow. Share a memory at www.denning.ca 519 245-1023 In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favourite charity. May we also ask that you embrace a family member tonight and tell them why you love them. And, if you can, watch The Nutty Professor, Christmas Vacation, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, or an episode of Coronation Street. Sandy would’ve liked that.