Celebrating Sandi: Memorial Fund for Sandra K. Smith

Sandra (known to most as “Sandi”) was a force of nature—fiery, stubborn, and fiercely devoted to her family. Born with an unbreakable spirit, she spent the last four years courageously battling medical mysteries and undiagnosed illnesses. In November 2024, when she was moved into a long-term care facility, we all held out hope that her body could heal. Although her care team made her as comfortable as possible, Sandi’s body simply couldn’t hold on. In the early hours of Saturday, May 31st, she slipped away peacefully in her sleep. She was only 46.

Sandi’s life was defined by things she loved: her children, her grandson Damien, and the simple joy of coloring every spare moment—especially with gel pens in hand. She collected dolphin-themed items, and nothing made her smile wider than receiving a big pack of colorful gel pens or a trinket adorned with her beloved dolphins. Every vibrant stroke of marker or sparkly dolphin charm reminded us of her bright personality and playful heart.

Many years of strength: From Late 2020 through May 2025, Sandi fought medical mysteries that no doctor could fully solve. Even on her toughest days—when symptoms were confusing and treatments seemed endless—she never lost her stubborn tone of dedication to survive.

Entering long-term care: In November 2024, a move to a long-term care facility marked a new chapter. Surrounded by compassionate caregivers, Sandi was made as comfortable as possible as her body gradually weakened. Still, she insisted on fighting—she wanted so badly to see her oldest grandchild graduate high school. She would talk to Mikaylla; her eldest and mother of Damien, about all the plans she had to spoil him throughout his life.

A believer to the end: Sandi’s faith was her anchor. Though stubborn by nature, she finally found peace in the belief that her Lord and Savior was calling her home. She finally understood that her spirit would live on in our hearts, even as we grieve her absence in the physical realm.

A Celebration, Not a Mourning!!

Sandi never wanted hushed tears or long eulogies. She wanted color—bright, bold, unapologetic color. She would say, “Don’t mourn me. Throw down the gel pens, blast some music, and laugh about my antics.” So that’s exactly what we plan to do: celebrate her life with everyone who loved her. We’ll share stories and laughter—just the way Sandi would have wanted.

Family Left Behind

Sandi leaves behind:

Her devoted children; Mikaylla, Tristan, Deveana, and James.

Two adoring grandsons, though one who lived with another family through adoption. Damien adored his “Other Grandma”

Her mother (Joyce), sister (Suzy), and brother (Randy); each missing her bold, lionhearted spirit.

Dozens of cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who saw her as the heartbeat of every gathering.

We are, quite simply, lost without her guidance and her daily “how are you” check-ins. Who will we call when panic attacks strike? Who will give us mothering advice at 2 AM? Those moments hurt. Sandi’s absence is profoundly felt every minute of every day.

How You Can Help

We have created this memorial fund to honor Sandi’s memory in a way she would truly love: with color, laughter, and a sense of togetherness. All proceeds will go toward:

Memorial Service & Celebration of Life: Covering venue costs, refreshments, and dolphin-themed decorations to reflect Sandi’s passion. We envision a bright, uplifting gathering where family and friends can share memories, showcase original coloring pages, and even set up a station with gel pens for everyone to leave a note or drawing in her honor.

Support for Her Family: Grieving and adjusting to life without Sandi comes with unexpected expenses. Counseling for her children and grandchildren, travel costs for relatives who want to attend the celebration, and basic bills while we navigate this transition.

Whether you knew Sandi as a friend, a cousin, a neighbor, or simply someone who admired her from afar, your gift will help ensure she’s remembered the way she lived: boldly.

Ways to Celebrate Sandi

Donate in Her Name: Any contribution, large or small, helps. If Sandi taught us anything, it’s that small, colorful details make the biggest impact.

Bring (or Send) Gel Pens & Dolphin Tokens: In lieu of flowers, consider gifting a pack of gel pens or a dolphin-themed item that we can display at her memorial or keep for her grandchildren. Seeing those bright pens and dolphin trinkets brought Sandi so much joy, she’d want that same joy shared among us.

Share a Memory or Photo: In the comments section of this GoFundMe, or email to [e-mail editado] , please leave a cherished memory, a favorite photo of Sandi, or even a doodle created in her honor. We’ll compile these tributes into a digital scrapbook to share with the family.

Thank You

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your generosity and for helping us celebrate Sandi’s unforgettable spirit. Though she’s gone from our arms, her laughter, her love of dolphins, and the bright swirl of her gel-pen doodles will forever remain in our lives. Your support means the world to all of us, her family, her friends, and those she has left a mark on. Together, we’ll honor Sandi’s memory in full color.

With gratitude and love,

Sandra’s children and family

[ Donate Now ]

Every dollar brings us one step closer to giving Sandi the celebratory send-off she deserves—and ensuring her family has the support they need to heal. Thank you for helping us keep her light shining bright.