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Sandra Robitaille

July 12, 1953 - June 21, 2019
Holland, MI

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Visitation

Thursday, June 27, 2019
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT
Dykstra Funeral Homes
Northwood Chapel
295 Douglas Avenue
Holland, MI 49424
(616) 392-2348
Driving Directions

Service

Friday, June 28, 2019
1:00 PM EDT
Dykstra Funeral Homes
Northwood Chapel
295 Douglas Avenue
Holland, MI 49424
(616) 392-2348
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 10069
Detroit, MI 48210
(616) 364-6121
Driving Directions
Web Site

St. Jude Children's Hospital
501 St Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
(800) 822-6344
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Sandra Robitaille was a good woman through and through. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she valued relationships with others and treated everyone she met with acceptance. She loved to host pool parties and entertain making each of her guests feel welcome in her presence. Never afraid to be herself, her vibrant personality surely made up for her small stature. Although she will be deeply missed, her fun-loving personality, winning smile, and immense generosity will be lovingly remembered by all who knew and loved her.

The 1950s were known as the decade of the baby boomer. They were exciting times indeed with the many talents of professional baseball players, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron, as well as the rock music icon, Elvis Presley, and movie heartthrob, James Dean. Families still huddled around the television to catch the latest westerns such as Gunsmoke or anything featuring Lucille Ball. On July 12, 1953, Ulis and Pauline Putnam welcomed home their daughter, Sandra, in Flint, Michigan. Her birth brought her family great joy and happiness.

Growing up in Holland, her father worked at Holland Hitch and her mother was a homemaker. One of six children, there was never a dull moment in the Putnam household! When she needed time to escape, she’d head to her bedroom and read the day away. As a family, they loved to travel and visited Niagara Falls. Most often, however, they headed south to Tennessee to visit relatives. Sandra lived a typical childhood of the times where she was known to babysit, listen to music, and cruise the popular 8th Street with her friends. During these adolescent years, she met Paul Robitaille and began dating. Her friends and siblings knew even before she did that the two of them were meant for one another. After graduating with the Class of 1971 from Holland High School, the high school sweethearts joined in marriage. Together they raised three wonderful sons; Patrick, Robert, and Todd.

Family was very important to Sandra. She cherished her years of being a stay at home mom and enjoyed doting on her boys. Sandra served as secretary of the PTA for Woodside Elementary. She also enjoyed being a Cub Scout Den Leader for many years and supported their athletic events. Their greatest fan, her voice could be heard cheering them on from the sidelines at each and every game. When the kids were all grown, Sandra returned to work at JC Penney’s in the catalog department. Over her several years there she made many lasting friendships and wrapped countless Christmas gifts. As much as she cherished her years as a mother, she was over the moon when she was blessed with grandchildren. They made many memories together visiting Binder Park Zoo, Disney World, and the Frederick Meijer Gardens butterfly exhibit. They also loved cooking together, watching Disney movies, especially Tarzan, and hanging out by the pool. She loved to spoil them on the holidays picking out their favorite things and fixing up their favorite dishes. Sandra was also known to crochet each of them beautiful blankets over the years. Nothing brought her greater happiness than to share in their many successes and celebrate with them over the years.

After the passing of her husband, Paul, Sandra became active in a Hospice support group and enjoyed spending time with members of the program for lunches, dinners, and concerts in Kollen Park. She also enjoyed taking trips to the casino with her friends and family. Win or lose, she savored the time she spent with them. She was also a huge Detroit sports fan. She loved to watch Red Wings hockey as well as Detroit Tigers baseball and cheer for her favorite college team, the University of Michigan Wolverines each football season. Sandra also loved her Motown music as well as Elvis and country music. When it came time for relaxation, she still leaned on her passion for reading and most commonly read anything from Nora Roberts, her favorite author. One of her final wishes was to visit the Smoky Mountains, where her father’s family was born and raised. Thankfully, her wish came true and she was able to take one more family vacation there this past May. Described as someone with a big heart and loving presence, there is no doubt that she will be deeply missed. May her loved ones remember her for her fearless approach to life as well as her natural way of being true to herself. Each time they gather together may they feel her warm spirit among them and may they embrace the fact that she loved them beyond measure for the rest of their lives.

Sandra, Ann (Sandy) Robitaille, age 65, of Holland, Michigan, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on June 21, 2019. Sandra was preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul Robitaille, her parents, Ulis and Pauline Putnam, and brother, James “Jimmy” Putnam. She is survived by her sons, Pat (Melissa) Robitaille, Robert (Casie) Robitaille,Todd Perry (Diane Stalker); grandchildren, Skie Burchard, Isabella Robitaille, Logan Fredricks, Hunter Fredricks, Todd (Amanda) Perry, Steven Perry, Braxton Stalker-Perry, Andrew Stalker; great-granddaughter, Addilyn; sisters, Joanne (Jim) Dodge, Kathy (Greg) Jones; brothers, John (Cindy) Putnam, Tom Putnam, along with many special nieces, nephews, and cousins, and her loving furry companion, her Husky, Siriah. A visitation will take place on Thursday, June 27, 2019 from 4-7 PM at Dykstra Funeral Home-Northwood Chapel. Funeral service will be held on Friday, June 28, at 1:00 PM, also at Dykstra Funeral Home Northwood Chapel. Burial will be followed at Restlawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Holland Hospital and Hospice of Holland.

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