Sandra Allen

Sandra (Sandy) J. Allen

It is with heavy hearts that we share the peaceful passing of Sandra (Sandy) Joan Allen (née Wightman) on January 6, 2025 in Saskatoon at the Royal University Hospital where she was surrounded by her loving family.

Sandy is survived by her son Bryce Allen (Jamie Bergen), son Jason Allen (Lisa McDougall), grandson Bennett, daughter Lori Allen (Bretton Dufresne) and granddaughter Louise. Sandy is also survived by her sister Lois Myer and family, brother Fred Wightman (Brenda), sister-in-law Sandra Wightman and family, sister-in-law Jan Allen and family, nephew-in-law Tim (Mia) Bekolay and family, niece-in-law Tami (Bob) Dumonceaux and family, Kayla (James) Armitage and family, and Brett Bekolay (Skylar Whetham) and family. Sandy was predeceased by her husband Anthony (Tony) Allen, parents Lucille (Graham) and Alfred Wightman, stepmother Mary Wightman, brother Grant Wightman, brother-in-law Tony Myer, sister-in-law Barb Bekolay, brother-in-law Don Bekolay, brother-in-law Ron Allen, nephew-in-law Todd Bekolay and niece-in-law Peggy Bekolay.

Sandy was born and raised with her three siblings on a farm near Marsden, SK, a place she cherished her entire life. She lost her mother tragically at a young age and was fortunate to have a supportive community around her as she grew up. Sandy moved to Saskatoon and completed her teaching degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1965. She started her teaching career in Swift Current, SK, and in 1968, she moved on to the Saskatoon Public School Division, where she taught elementary grades in both classroom and library settings until the end of her career in 2005. In 1973, Sandy met fellow teacher Tony Allen on a blind date and the age-old city boy/country girl romance blossomed from there. They were married in 1974 and purchased their home in Saskatoon in 1975 where they raised three children, and Sandy remained until her passing.

Sandy connected with others through humour, and by sharing stories about her childhood, adventures with Tony, classroom experiences, and of course, the antics of her children. She integrated her farming background and personal interests into her teaching, and enjoyed watching her students discover Saskatchewan history through interactive experiences such as field trips to the Western Development Museum's threshing demonstration and baking bread in the classroom.

Sandy was a welcoming and kind-hearted person, who was always very proud of the people she loved. She was a good friend, a devoted mother and grandmother, and prioritized time spent with loved ones whenever and wherever she could. She loved having her grandkids at the house, where they helped in the garden, made crafts, baked together, shared snacks and good cuddles. She enjoyed being outdoors, and after retirement, she and Tony travelled to Costa Rica, Texas, Arizona, and Hawaii for birdwatching adventures. Victoria, BC became a very important destination for Sandy, as was Baltimore, Kootenay Lake, and pretty much anywhere in Saskatchewan. She truly was quite easy-to-please, and just loved being with her people, sharing stories, playing games, and laughing. She was always eager to swap updates about the creative pursuits and passions she shared with those around her. Whether it was quilting, sewing, embroidery, beading, gardening, baking, or anything else, she was always delighted to hear what everyone was working on. Sandy shared her time with many people and was involved in several groups over the years, including La Leche League, Girl Guides, The Unitarian Church of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Quilters Guild, and the Unrefined Quilting Group to name a few. Sandy developed many treasured lifelong friendships through these experiences, and amongst these groups, she was known as a vibrant, friendly, and genuine person who worked hard and loved a good laugh. Her accepting nature and thoughtfulness will be deeply missed by all of those who knew her.

Sandy bravely faced a number of health concerns over the past few years, including atrial fibrillation, and a diagnosis of clear-cell carcinoma in late-2023, but was in good health when she was hospitalized following a stroke on November 26, 2024. She was on the road to recovery for five weeks before complications arose, resulting in another more serious stroke, and she was transitioned to palliative care on January 2, 2025. The family wishes to thank the staff at RUH (6300 unit) for the excellent care she received, especially in the days preceding her passing.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Sandra at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Grace Westminster Church - 505 10th Street E., Saskatoon, SK. For those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available via the Grace Westminster Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@Grace-WestminsterSaskatoon/). The livestream link will appear roughly 30 minutes before the service starts.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a monetary donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, Nature Saskatchewan, The Unitarian Church of Saskatoon, or a charity of your choice.