Sandra Louise Simmonds, Nee Welch

Hampered by Covid restrictions, we have been unable to plan a funeral or a Celebration of Life where family and friends could gather to share their memories and stories, and to raise a glass to toast our good fortune to have had Sandie in our lives.

In accordance with her wishes, her ashes will be sprinkled in Macquarie Park.

Jann Glisson

I am honored to be asked by my cousin, Jeffrey, to work in collaboration with my niece, Janelle, to create this Memorial to celebrate Sandie. Like each of you reading this, I have grieved her passing.  I’m so very grateful for her presence in my life since Sandie and Jeffrey found each other – the stars were definitely aligned to make that happen.  October 25 is a magic date – Sandie’s birth date, the birth date of Jeff’s father and my Uncle Mick (Miles), and my husband Jerry’s birth date.  Jerry and I live in the United States, but often planned our visits to OZ to include October 25.  Jeff and Sandie visited us in Seattle – first stop in their many weeks traveling in Canada and the U.S.- and we joined them in Las Vegas before they headed home.  Such joyful memories, along with those a few years later when we met them in Ireland.She looked life straight in the eye.  MD did not define her. She was a gifted ‘listener’ and shared with me her love of Australian Indigenous culture.  I will miss immensely her choice of greeting cards, and her wicked sense of humor (elsewhere here you will see a close friend mention that too).

Therese Ferguson

I first met Sandie 5 years ago after applying for an advertisement to help as a carer. Sandie and I always thought we were brought together for a reason. Sandie having MD and my own son also with MD. I will always be grateful to her as she helped me and my son Daniel navigate through the processes and needs that exist with this condition.Sandie was a great manager and did well keeping the household running while caring for Jeff and Jenna. She was a modern-day influencer! If it was a great product, person in business or service, she promoted it.Sandie was able to read people well. She got respect because she gave respect to others. She was my mentor and counsellor. In fact, she was this for all her carers, Janet, Marissa, Dee, Amelia and Beata, who she loved and appreciated so very much. Sandie always made her carers feel special and important, calling us her “angels”. She had a genuine and keen interest in people never forgot a name, date or conversation. You couldn’t pull the wool over her eyes as Sandie was always one step ahead. Sometimes Sandie could be stubborn, however this is what got her through the day-to-day grind of this insidious disease. She was fearless and hated people doing the wrong thing. I accompanied Sandie to her physio appointment one day and we got into the car park, and someone parked in the Disabled Spot! Boy did Sandie give it to them! That’s what we loved about Sandie; she was courageous and strong! Sandie had a love of food and cooking, especially anything with a French influence. In the last year Sandie got the carers to cook for her and Jeff, but always under her instruction of course! She hated the fact that she wasn’t cooking herself, however, if it was to her liking, everyone was happy. Sandie has been endlessly generous with the community and with all of us who have been fortunate enough to call ourselves friends.

Sandie, you left this earth too soon and you will be truly missed!!

MESSAGES TO JEFF from Sandie's Facebook page

Pat Kefalas Cox

Sandie ... We love you, miss you and will ALWAYS remember you for your wise advice, your warm companionship, your knowing smile, unrelenting strength and wicked sense of humour ... ALL of this to the very end. Cheers to you our beautiful neighbour and friend. RIP ... love from George, Maria, Storm, Patroula and the Lellas family in Melbourne.

Colleen Csavas

My dear friend, Sandie, I am heartbroken to learn of your passing.  Know that we shared some of the best years of our life and a lot of love and laughter together.  Jeff, my heart is broken for you and I'm glad you had 38 yrs of loving together (it was a fun sneaky wedding.) I hope we can get together inthe future to celebrate Sandie's life and, in the meantime that you get well yourself.  Much love to you xx.

Beata Jaku

RIP beautiful

Robin Stout

Thank you for your post. We were unaware. Please pass our heartfelt sympathy and love and thoughts onto Jeff. We loved Sandie and may she Rest in Peace and be reunied with her darling sister Sue.  Big hugs from the Stout family, Gold Coast.

Jill Bennett

Just heard of the passing of our beloved cousin Sandy.  Can't tell you how much this has devastated our family.  We spent all our younger years over Xmas and New Years with Uncle Tom, Aunty June, Sue and Sandy. What great times we had, especially for me, having 2 other girls around 4 boys.I'll miss her more than I can say and can't believe that I was only talking to her a couple of weeks ago. I do have Jeff's phone number and would dearly love to talk to him, but I can understand if he cannot at this moment do so. Please gived him our heartfelt condolences and tell him that the Bennetts and Mulligans are thinking of him at this time and give him the love of his country cousins.

Sue-Anne Paterson

I was a good friend of her sister Sue. Please pass on my deepest sympathy to Jeff. It's all too sad, but the girls, who struggled every day, are together again and soaring. xx

Barbara Edmunds

Such a lovely lady taken way too soon.  Please give my heartfelt sympathies to Jeff.  I hope it helps him to know that he is not alone at this terrible time.  I'm sending him loads of virtual hugs.  Barb

PLEASE ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL PHOTO JOURNEY THROUGH SANDIE'S LIFE

Sandie Simmonds Memorial 29-07-2021 - YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ZmK9b8RiSXU

(Copy & paste the above link into your web browser)