May 4, 1950 – October 6, 2023 (age 73)
Our sweet mom ran to the welcoming arms of her baby boy, Andy, and into the loving embrace of her Mom, Dad and brother Ross in the Spirit World early Friday morning. She passed away peacefully, October 6, 2023 in Boise Idaho with her 6 children by her side, after a day spent listening to Doris Day, singing primary songs and taking a few cherished bites of a contraband loaded baked potato while in the ICU at St. Luke’s Hospital. She is preceded in death by her baby son Andy, her brother Ross, and her loving parents, also her Great-grandparents, and their grandparents, and your grandparents, maybe even your neighbors grandparents, and so on. She is survived by her six children, 18 grandchildren and 1 brand new great grandchild.
Mom served an L.D.S mission in Northern Ireland in 1974, where she met a fellow missionary, Elder Burborough. After their mission they began dating and later married in the Salt Lake City Temple. From that union they had seven children.
Sandy’s marriage did not last however, and she raised her six children as a single parent. Mom’s story was one of resiliency, grit and faith.
Mom was an artist at heart and mastered many mediums to express her talents, except for cooking. Her children courageously weathered the storm of her budget friendly creations, and 101 ways to use cilantro.
Mom could stretch a dollar as far as it could go like mixing cereals together, and whipping up hot coco made from canned milk.
She managed to make everything magical for her children, like laying on the family room floor listening to soft Christmas music by candlelight.
She started her own business, Sandy’s Ink in the early 90’s and painted custom art for Nordstrom clientele in San Francisco. She continued to use her talents to work many jobs painting store window fronts, commissioned art for business and making rock families.
Mom knew that obtaining a higher education would be the only way to provide a better future for herself and her children. Mom obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Weber State University, and then her Masters from University of Utah. She then obtained a job as an LCSW at LDS Family Services and lovingly worked with young women, helping them to feel their Heavenly Father’s love for them and their babies. She loved her work and they loved her.
Above all though, mom loved her family. It was her ultimate desire to be a mama, even practicing on the baby piglets she snuck into bed dressed in baby clothes.
Mom loved her kids, laughed at their lip sync dances, taught them about the importance of jigsaw puzzles and yardwork. She labored alongside us in the yard planting, weeding and landscaping until “siesta time” almost every Saturday.
When mom became a “Gramma”, her world became complete. She found so much joy holding, rocking and feeding her sweet babies. They were her “happy”.
We, her children, are so grateful to know that our sweet mom is still with us in Spirit and waiting for us to be together forever as an eternal family again one day.
We love you mom.. We miss you more than any of us ever thought would be possible. We’ll love you forever, we’ll like you for always, as long as we’re living, our mommy you’ll be.
Mom is survived by her kids (3 sets of twins); Erin (Ethan) Adams, forever nomadic, USA; Jesse (Amanda) Burborough, Las Vegas, NV; Haley (Matthew) Jensen, Weston, ID; Jenna Burborough, Boise, ID; Samantha (Leland) Lealaitafea, Eagle Mtn, Ut; Adam (Tony) Burborough, Boise, ID; Honorary daughter Jen Heder, And 18 Grandchildren: Katelyn, Hanna, Andrew, Carter, Olivia, Joshua, Teagan, Grayson, Mason, Katiya, Grady, Kennedy, Isabella, Logan, Alyssa, Brielle, Maxwell, Nellie, and Greatgrandson, Saint. Honorary grandchildren Tori Ianotti, Grace, Kayden, Beau, Owen Heder. Lastly, our family dogs Dixie, Maguire and Jack where they always had a special spot by her feet for snacks. Love you mom.
In lieu of flowers, go plant some perennials in your garden for Sandy (she believes annuals are a waste of money!)