Obituary of Sandra Jean Roechner
Age 78, passed from this life Thursday evening, September 8, 2022, surrounded by family at Lightways Hospice home of Joliet, IL. Sandra was born September 26, 1943 to the late Marjorie (nee Homer) and Edwin Whiteman in Joliet where she was raised and educated, a graduate of Joliet Township High School.
She is the beloved mother of Dr. Andrew (Elizabeth) Roechner Jr, Andrea (Andy) Carey, Audra (Richard) Crowther, Alan (Nancy Griparis) Roechner, Amy Pesavento and Adrianne (Otto) Toke; loving and devoted grandmother of Sinclair, Isabella and Sutton Roechner; Grant and Bryan Carey; Kaityn (Ryan) Wagner, Jacob and Justin Crowther; Catherine (Vic) Carusi, Hallie (Brett Wilson) and Zoe Roechner; Trevor, Luke (Ariel) and Grace Pesavento; Andrew and Alexander Toke; proud great-grandmother of Nico Carusi and Weston Wagner; proud “aunt-grandma” of Brock Whiteman; dearest sister of Edwin (the late Karen), Donald (Doris) and Daniel (Koni) Whiteman. Many nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Roechner Sr.; her parents and sister-in-law.
Sandra will be remembered for her warmth, quick wit, always embracing the positive, and never missed an opportunity to sing and dance like no one is watching. Besides being an amazing mom to her 6 kids, she was a mom to so many others.
Sandra and her husband, Andrew, owned and operated “Nature’s Helper” health food store in Joliet while the children were young. Later, they also owned and operated the New Cantonese Chinese Restaurant where all the children worked together. When her youngest started kindergarten, she returned to school and received her RN degree in the mid-eighties from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing. She would often say her every day job was to make someone smile, and as a nurse healing the human spirit was second nature to Sandy. She succeeded in both.
She spent many summers of her childhood with family in Springfield making memories. She traveled as often as she could with her favorite traveling companion, her aunt Mary Loretta Shutty. Her interests included travel, all things Disney, and being a talented seamstress. She made her own wedding dress, as well as those of her daughters, including bridesmaid’s gowns!
Visitation for Sandra will be Monday, September 12, 2022 from 4-8 p.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.) Joliet. Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name can be made to Team Make a Difference. The charity was dear to her heart as she loved helping others. Website is www.tmadifference.com, and the address is PO Box 322, Morris, IL 60450.
For more information please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave a condolence
