Obituary of Sandra J. McNeal

Sandra J. (Turner) McNeal, passed away at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center on Friday morning, May 26, 2017. She was 68 years old. Sandie was born in Watertown. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Ruth Turner. Sandie was raised and educated in Burlington and a 1967 graduate of Burlington High School. She had many close friends and was a member of the marching band. Sandie was also “Miss Teen Burlington”. As an Airforce wife Sandie travelled the world living in such destinations as Arizona, Turkey, Germany, Florida, and Cleveland Ohio. She eventually returned to Burlington in 1985 where she would raise her two sons; raising them in the same house she grew up in, on Wilmington road. Sandie was an active, confident, and independent woman. She worked for over 10 years as a Senior Care Coordinator at Beacon Health Options. Sandie joined the Burlington Players in 1986 and was honored to be a Lifetime Member. While with the Burlington Players, along with other surrounding community theater groups, Sandie performed in numerous theater productions. With her outgoing personality, theater was the perfect venue for Sandie. She made many friendships throughout the years of the Community Theater. She passed on her love of theater and the arts to both her two sons, as well as her two granddaughters. When not participating in community theater, Sandie could be found on the open seas at every possible moment. Sandie loved to cruise and the over two dozen cruises she took allowed her to see the world both near and far. She was a very adventurous woman and never sat on the sidelines. There was very little she wouldn’t try. In past years, she had flown by helicopter, deep into the Grand Canyon to go white water rafting. She was also known to catch air by going zip lining! She was an avid football fan and loved to watch the Patriots. To Sandie, every Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday. Most recently, Sandie was very proud that her nephew Craig Turner had recently been named the Head football coach at Wilmington High School. Sandie was a loving and supportive mom to her two sons. She was always there for them growing up supporting them in all their passions. Sandie took great joy in being “Nana” to Eliot, Hannah & Addysun. She was known as a “Spunky Nana” and was a lot of fun to be around. A visit to her grandchildren would never be complete without an offering of creative treats. Through the 6 months, Sandie bravely battled her illnesses she was comforted by having both family and close friends by her side supporting her and loving her. Sandie was the beloved and proud mother of Scott of Burlington and Dusty & his wife Kristy of Billerica. Loving Nana of Addysun, Hannah & Eliot. Sister of Nancy Wilcox of NH and Charlie Turner of Billerica. Aunt to several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Tuesday, May 30 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 31 at Noon. Interment to follow in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Sandie’s name may be to Burlington Players Theater, PO Box 433, Burlington, MA 01803 Family Remembrance by Kristy Sandie. I had the good fortune to know Sandie as my mother in law, as mother to my husband and as Nana to our kids. The loss of her in our lives will be felt deeply and whole heartedly. As we all know, before her health declined, Sandie’s personality was a fine balance of strong and stubborn mixed with her generosity and the ability to listen- truly listen- when things were quiet. For me, Sandie was someone I could always count on for honest advice and the truth. She was a principled person with strong roots which grounded her in her opinions but she would often come around to other ways of thinking. Sandie made every holiday- EVERY day- fun. I’ll never forget the Easter morning, Addysun was about to turn 2, I was cooking breakfast and looked out my kitchen window to see Sandie, dressed up as the Easter Bunny, hopping through our backyard. As a Nana, she was the definition of fun: she had a bottomless bin of costumes and disguises, a pantry full of treats and a kitchen bursting with impromptu ice cream sundaes, hot dog and taco bars. She would also take the kids on adventures I know they’ll always remember. Sandie’s relationship with each of the kids was important to her she as she spent lots of time getting to truly know them, meet their friends and attend their special events. Her love and support was unconditional, with the exception of dance recitals- she really despised those! Dusty and Scott had a mom who watched football faithfully and could call plays and hold her own with any knowledgeable fan. She knew every nuance of the game and took time to teach anyone who wanted to up their game. Weekly, we enjoyed family meals in front of the TV watching as many games as possible together…. this tradition I only enjoyed for the last 10 years, while the boys and cousins enjoyed this tradition for decades. If any of you had the chance to watch football with Sandie, you would experience lots of hootin' and hollering, for sure. I would always look forward to cooking in tandem with her for each game. She made the best calzones, until she didn’t. Her healthier lifestyle and changes in eating habits made an impact on the football food, for sure, but we always appreciated her efforts. I had a mother in law who I truly considered a friend. I believe I have become a better, less rigid, mom as a result of Sandie’s influence. Over time, I felt myself let go and I warmed up to the tradition of fried dough on thanksgiving morning. I got used to treats and unusual candy gifts for the kids. Through ‘Concerts on the common’ in Burlington Center, we honed our hula hoop skills and soccer ball passes and connected with old friends- Sandie reminded us of the importance of being involved with the community and enjoying each other on humid summer nights. Sandie’s declining health over the past 6 ½ months has been a long and challenging road to navigate for all of us. Many of you have helped support us along this journey and we thank you so much for that. It’s been hard to watch our Nana, our independent, vibrant force of life, suffer and her world become incresingly small and scary. It’s been hard to watch the boys make hard medical decisions for their mother. While Scott and Dusty are intrinsically two very different people their support for each other is unrelenting and a great example for all siblings to emulate. In her unbelievable and unfathomable absence, I find solace in the in pulling together and celebrating the life she lived, the love she gave and the legacy she leaves behind in her sons and grandchildren. Thank you. Poem by granddaughter Hannah Nana, we’ll always remember that special Your life was full of loving deeds, forever thoughtful of our special needs. Today and tomorrow, my whole life through, I will always love and cherish you, smile, that caring heart that warm, embrace, you always gave us. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.