Obituary of Sandra H. Sheppard

LINK to funeral mass

Clicking on the link (above) will bring you to our facebook page (sign-in is NOT required) to view a live stream of the funeral mass.   Live-stream will begin a few minutes before 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 11.

Sandra Sheppard, beloved wife of the late Richard Sheppard passed away on March 2, at the age of 82 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Sandra was born to her parents Carmen and Irene Ferraro in Boston, MA. She grew up in Billerica and graduated from Billerica High School in 1958. After graduating from High School, Sandra went to Salem State, where she received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1962. 

Sandra loved her fulfilling work as a school teacher, mentor, and colleague. She started her career in Billerica, and worked in several other schools until joining Burlington High School as an English teacher.  During her career, Sandra taught for over 30 years. Her roles ranged from special education, history and English literature. Sandra also taught journalism and edited the Burlington High School Paper called The Devil’s Advocate. She also oversaw the production of the 2005 school yearbook. Before her retirement in 2005, she was asked by the Thoreau Society of Concord to participate in a focus group with her students and interview with Walter Cronkite for the Thoreau DVD Life Without Principles. It was used in classrooms around the world as an expansion of the successful DVD to show how Thoreau’s writings in modern times, challenged students to confront their own choices in life. Sandra most enjoyed helping her students succeed and spent countless hours mentoring, writing letters of recommendation and tutoring. 

Sandy and Dick raised their two children, Keith and Holly in Burlington. Growing up, the family would spend weekends during the summer at Good Harbor beach or at family home dinners with the grandparents, cousins and extended family. In the early years, there were road trips to Niagara Falls, The Coast of Maine and Cape Cod. Sandy loved to travel and adventured with Holly to Paris, France, Sedona and Florida while also enjoying couples trips with Dick to Myrtle Beach, Tucson, AZ, and Key West.  One of her last trips abroad was a grand literary tour of England and Scotland with many of her former colleagues and friends from the English Department at BHS. Family vacations to Cape Cod and Meredith NH were most cherished times in the later years. 

Sandra’s faith and the Episcopal Church were always the centerpiece of her life and she dedicated herself to the study of the bible and its meaning. She was part of the vestry and loved her church choir.  She had many original writings, poems and journals dedicated to faith in God and any book she read was covered in hand written notes and highlighter. She taught Sunday School and even sang in the choir at the Billy Graham Crusade. Sandy was the caregiver for many family members and friends when they fell ill, or needed help and her faith always guided her through the most challenging of times. 

Sandra grew up on a farm as a child in Billerica and began Horseback riding at a young age. As her kids grew up, she decided it was time to revisit her passion for horses and riding and she purchased her first horse named Hollywood Hadley (and several others over the years). She became an avid rider and competitor attending events, winning ribbons, and always making new friends which became her equestrian family. She also shared her love of riding with her children and grandchildren by riding with them and giving them lessons.

Sandra was the treasured wife of 60 years to the late Richard “Dick” Sheppard of Burlington.  She was the beloved mother of Keith Sheppard & his wife Chrissy of Burlington and Holly Dineen & her husband Sean of Burlington.  Sandra was the adored “Nanny” of Samantha, Jessica, & Ricky Sheppard and Siena Dineen. She was the dear sister to her late brother Jim Ferraro. 

Visiting hours for Sandra will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home on Friday, March 10, from 4 to 7 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 11, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 10 St Marks Rd, Burlington, MA 01803, at 9:00 AM. Burial at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, 52 Bedford Street, Burlington, MA 01803 following church. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org

For online guestbook, video tribute and livestream, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net