Sandra Lynn Andrews

Sandra Lynn Andrews, “Sandy”, 91, passed away on Thursday morning, January 30, 2025. She went calmly and peacefully at home, surrounded by her four children.

 She was born to Carl and Nena Heacock, in Danville, Illinois, on January 12, 1934. She was the middle daughter of three girls—Joyce Carlson, her elder sister, (predeceased), and Linda Knecht, her younger sister. The family lived in Paxton, Illinois.

 At Paxton High School, she was a cheerleader, a member of the Glee Club, played bass drum in the high school band, and was Art Editor of the monthly newspaper - a sign of her future artistic talents.

 She moved to Chicago to attend nursing school at St Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing, where she was Treasurer of her class. One day, in the operating room, wearing caps and masks, her eyes met with the doctor across from her, who would soon become her husband of 59 years, Dr John Wilson Andrews. They got married in Elgin, Illinois in 1955. 

 John became a medical officer in the Navy stationed out of Long Beach, California. He moved from Illinois ahead of Sandy, who followed later with her sister, Joyce, and daughter, Susan, who was just a few months old. They drove all the way to California on Route 66 after Sandy had only just learned to drive one week prior. 

 In 1960, they moved to the house they would live in for the next 36 years in Waukegan, Illinois, where they raised a family, enjoyed their lives, played golf, and laughed with friends. 

 In 1996, Dr John retired and they moved to their dream home at The Landings of Skidaway Island. Sandy led an active life, always busy with a prolific and constant stream of creative arts and crafts projects flowing out of her studio. She loved giving them as gifts and decorating for event luncheons and dinners, while being a member of several social groups like PEO (39 years), the Society of Decorative Painters, Minilanders (miniatures group), and WOW (Women on Wine). 

 She was a long and faithful member of the Skidaway Island Methodist Church, where she will rest alongside her beloved husband, John, in the Memorial Garden. 

 Sandy is survived by: her daughter, Susan Cuilla and her husband Vince, their children, Katie Buckley and Kyle Cuilla; her daughter, Peggie Rosenbaum and her husband William, their children, Alex and Callie Rosenbaum; her son, John Robert Andrews and his wife, Mary, their children, Ashley, Stuart, and Maxwell; her son, Michael Andrews and his wife, Leisa, and their son, Jasper. 

 In addition to having four children and eight grandchildren, Sandy was blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Jennie, Noah, Taylor, Blake, Kennedy, Hailey, Louis, and Theo, who all loved their “Gigi”.

 Sandy was a fun and loving mother and grandmother, always a source of stories and entertainment. She lived by the words: Live Well, Laugh Often, and Love Much. 

 A service to celebrate Sandy’s wonderful life will be held at 11:00am, Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Skidaway Island Methodist Church, 54 Diamond Cswy, Savannah, GA, 31411.

The service can be viewed on the church’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@skidawaymethodist/streams

The family would like to thank the angels of Hospice Savannah, especially Tony and Hattie for walking this journey with us. 

 Memorial contributions may be offered in memory of Sandy Andrews, to the following organizations: 

 Blue Bird Trail, (co-chairs Brenda Ecken and Sarah Lucas) https://skidawayaudubon.app.neoncrm.com/forms/skidaway-audubon-donation

 Hospice Savannah, 1352 Eisenhower Dr, Savannah, GA, 31406

https://www.hospicesavannah.org/give

 Skidaway Island Methodist Church, 54 Diamond Cswy, Savannah, GA, 31411 https://www.skidawaymethodist.org/give

PEO Foundation, Chapter BB