Sandra “Sandy” Dresner (nee Koss), 79, died peacefully on April 29, 2024, with her sons at her side, after a valiant battle with breast cancer. A devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, niece and exceptional friend, Sandy’s greatest accomplishments are reflected in the hearts of those she leaves behind for whom her absence will always be conspicuous and deeply felt. Words simply fail us.
Sandy adored her husband Samuel—also known as “Sandy” to the confusion of new acquaintances and the consequent amusement of their children and old friends—and not a day went by that she did not miss him dearly in the 13 years after he died. They enjoyed more than 40 years of marriage and together they raised two sons—Marc and Lee—who have been blessed to never know anything but unconditional love and devotion from their parents. Her sons’ happiness and wellbeing were ever her top priority, and Sandy fussed, worried and happily sacrificed throughout her life to ensure they had everything they needed.
But Sandy’s deepest pride and joy were her grandchildren, Drew and Maddie, on whom she doted passionately and about whom she bragged with endless gusto. They are and always will be her very favorite people, the apple of and twinkle in her eye, and a source of ferocious pride and adoration.
Family and friends were everything to Sandy. She grew up on the South Shore of Chicago, graduating from South Shore High School. She fondly remembered her childhood there and the closeness of her large extended family. She loved her parents deeply, and was especially close to her beloved mother, Evelyn. With Evelyn, Sandy modeled for her own children what it means to be a devoted daughter. She was also a dutiful and loving niece to her many aunts and uncles, and she treasured her lifelong close relationships with her cousins.
Importantly, Sandy was well known to be a dear and steadfast friend who counted herself blessed and lucky to have many long-time friendships that went back decades, and who was always making new friends. Among the hardest parts of her later life was to see several dear old friends pass away. She never forgot them, and spoke often of them.
Sandy had a natural way with children and animals—they were drawn to her—and she truly enjoyed people. Over the years, she held a variety of different occupations—elementary school secretary, manicurist, wine sales—and her working life was always characterized by human interaction. A dog lover, Sandy’s home was never without four-legged family members, and the family has many comical stories and wonderful memories of Sandy with them.
Among Sandy’s more defining qualities were her strength, resilience and dignity. She was no stranger to adversity, and had her share of health challenges, including multiple back surgeries, a shoulder replacement, three knee replacements, a mastectomy in her late 70s…all of which she bore with courage and resolve. She was prone to concealing any pain and fear, and for all she endured, you wouldn’t hear her complain much. She preferred to joke about her circumstances.
What more can we say? She loved playing solitaire and majhong. She loved jigsaw puzzles and novels, especially the trashy romance variety. She was known for her chopped liver, for matzo balls that could put a hole in a wall, for sponge cake and brisket. She loved barbeque—anything on the bone, especially. She loved the Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson, Niel Diamond, Barbara Streisand and Broadway musical scores. She loved summers on the boat with her husband, Sandy, her children and family friends. She lived a full life. She loved deeply, touched other lives profoundly and she was desperately loved.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, 2:00 PM at Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Blvd, Wilmette, IL 60091. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60076.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to CJE SeniorLife at www.cje.net, the V Foundation for Cancer Research at www.v.org, or the Anti-Cruelty Society at www.anticruelty.org.
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