BLATCHFORD, Sandra Elaine

January 8, 1951- April 11, 2018

Sandy was born in Carberry, MB on January 8, 1951 and passed away peacefully on April 11, 2018 at her home in West Kelowna, BC. Her 4`11 stature did not do her impact justice, she truly is an example that great things do come in small packages.

Sandy is survived by her son, Robert Blatchford and son in law Rafael Blatchford, her aunt Irene McAvena, her aunt Emily McAvena, her aunt and uncle, Della and Leonard McAvena, her cousin Lorraine Degenhardt and her daughter and son in law Shannon, Bob Skinner and their children Kylie and Dylan, also numerous cousins throughout Canada and the USA.

She was pre-deceased by her ex-husband, Larry Blatchford, her father Howard McAvena, and her aunt Jannie Swinnerton as well as many aunts and uncles and cousins from the McAvena family.

Even though she was only 15 ½ years old when her son Robert was born; she was determined to be the best single mother possible, working various jobs to provide for her and her son.

Mom married Larry Keith Blatchford in Calgary in June 1970; who adopted Robert and did his best to father him. They moved from their home in Calgary to Crossfield and then to Moose Jaw, SK in 1973. 

In Crossfield, Sandy and Larry ran a small-town diner where everything was homemade; from the soups, pies and bread, and served from early morning to the late bar crowd. Sandy really shined as one who did it all.

Moving to Moose Jaw, Sandy was a phenomenal wife, mother, aunt, worker, friend.  Mom found much pleasure in curling and discovered a passion for acting and directing in local theatre.  Going back to school to get her GED, and then to night school to get her CPA. She did not finish her CPA, because she got employment in Moose Jaw without it. Working at Nelson – Bode Implements, until she left Moose Jaw as their Head Accounting Clerk in the 90`s.

In 1997 she moved to the Lower Mainland.  She worked at Surrey Memorial Hospital and Langley Memorial Hospital in the night shift positions. She talks very fondly of these years as her true calling and the career she loved the most. She said she wished she had discovered her true and most passionate calling, earlier in life.   

Moving to West Kelowna in 2012 to be near her aunt Irene where they were co-participants in several catering ventures at several and varied events throughout the Okanagan area.

She got the travel bug in 2013 and went to Brazil to visit her son Robert and his partner Rafael.  There she travelled to a few places during the hottest summer in 40 years, but she was a trooper. She met all of Rafael`s family and participated in Brazilian Christmas festivities. She celebrated her birthday in Brazil, before going back home after spending more than a month there.

She was a quiet, gentle storm who would overtake you with her loving, caring, generous, stubborn to do it right, tenacious nature that before you could blink an eye she had you enchanted with her humorous and sweet spirit that  was impossible to escape, and nor would you want to, because she always gave more than she took. I will never forget you, and I can never replace what I have lost. I love you.

A Celebration of life Service will be held on Saturday April 21st, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Bertram Creek Regional Park, 5680 Lakeshore Road.  Arrangements entrusted to Everden Rust Funeral Services, 250-860-6440 condolences may be offered at www.everdenrust.com