Czuchry, Sandra Jean Phelps
Sandra Jean Phelps Czuchry passed away peacefully on December 30th, 2023. She was born on December 31st, 1941, in Hartford, Connecticut to Ruth Taylor Phelps and John Fitzgerald Phelps. Sandra’s love of family was created when she was just a child in the 1950s as she lived with several generations of family members under one roof in Andover, Connecticut: grandparents, Lewis and Helen Phelps, parents, Ruth and John, Uncle Charles, and younger siblings, Roger and Charlotte. Her true sense of home originated in that small town of Andover and her commitment to family only continued to grow deeper.
Every person connected to her siblings was loved deeply by Sandra: Roger married to Cheri, with their daughter Shelby and son Jason; Charlotte married to John Wright, with their daughter Heather and son Joshua; David married to Sara, with their son Ben and daughter Kallie; Johnathan married to Genina, with their sons Harrison and Hunter and daughter Olivia; Deb married to the late Darryl Pettinelli, with sons Max and Cal.
Sandra married Andrew John Czuchry, Sr. in 1961 and they were blessed with four children and three grandchildren: son Andrew John Czuchry, Jr. married to Diane Henry Czuchry with their son Drew and fiancé Regan; daughter Karen Czuchry Sallman married to Florian Sallman with their daughters Selina and Sydney; son Michael Czuchry, married to Rebecca Czuchry; and son Matthew Czuchry.
Growing up, Sandra was active in the Girl Scouts, 4-H, and at Windham High school she was in the chorus, girls sports club, and Latin club. At RHAM high school she was in the chorus, soloed several performances, sang in St. Peter’s Church choir, and was a varsity cheerleader. She was a member of the W.C. Heisler Chapter of the National Honor Society and in 1959, Sandra was recognized as Valedictorian of the graduating class. Her love of helping others would lead her to nursing school in 1959 where she made contributions to the care of others before dedicating herself to being a mother.
Sandra’s introduction to music began while listening to her mother Ruth’s concert-level piano playing. Sandra convinced her very reluctant and perfectionist mother, who was in her 80s at the time, to record a collection of her most beautiful piano music. Sandra turned the pages perfectly without a single ruffling sound on the recording. One of the pieces from her mother’s original recording, Debussy’s “Claire de Lune,” was played at Michael and Rebecca’s wedding. Her mother’s recordings were played again for Sandra in the final stages of her life’s journey, bringing her much peace and comfort.
Sandra loved to share her own musical talent. She sang and played the piano from an early age, and later picked up the guitar. In the 1970’s Sandra introduced new folk music to St. Jude Parish in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The very traditional and somewhat curmudgeonly priest who ran the program was originally unimpressed with Sandra’s flare for change. She eventually won over the priest, and Sandra went on to transform the spirit of the parish in the 197O’s and 80s. The services became more joyful, and even the occasional wry smile from the parish priest would visibly show during church services. Throughout her life, Sandra continued to be passionate about music, picking up new musical instruments to play like the dulcimer and the didgeridoo!
Sandra’s passion and enthusiasm for life extended to creating a wide range of different artwork including stenciling, tole paintings, elaborate coloring collages, fused glass creations, nurturing her elaborate rock gardens, and even making an incredible Superman costume by hand for her son Matthew the night before his high school senior spirit day. Sandra’s creativity also included learning new languages where she took college classes in German when she was in her 60s. And those German studies allowed her to communicate with her grandchildren, in their native tongue, and to make her way around Europe on numerous trips. Sandra’s love of sports began as a child as she watched her father play baseball. Though she did not choose to play sports herself, Sandra enthusiastically supported her children and grandchildren in person as they excelled at basketball, field hockey, soccer, tennis, and golf. She enjoyed every moment of traveling around the United States to be present to watch them shine. She also developed an interest in playing the video game “Rock Band” as a way of staying connected to her children and grandchildren and has been known to “whoop the butts” of many of her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews on the piano, guitar, and even the drums!
Sandra would strike up a conversation with any stranger, and show everyone kindness and compassion. She was always willing to sacrifice her own comfort for the comfort of others and help anyone in need. She was the harmonizer in the family, always reading the room and adjusting what she would say or do to help ease any tensions or discomforts being felt by others. Sandra’s love of family and others surpassed even her legendary love of ice cream and Gin and Tonics. She was happiest and always completely fulfilled when she was just hanging out with her children and grandchildren, doing anything or nothing at all; and, it was our greatest gift to be loved unconditionally by her.
Sandra embraced the cooking traditions of her immediate family and then mixed and mashed traditions together (Ukrainian, Southern American, German, just to name a few) to create new traditions so all guests around the table would feel welcome.
Everyone would gather for the food, but stay to experience her sweetness, loving presence, and the purest smile you have ever seen. Her recipes are currently kept in the same recipe box she stenciled by hand years and years ago, and those recipes will continue to be enjoyed, further mixed and mashed to bring people together for generations to come.
Anytime we were with Mom/Grandma she did not want to leave us. She would always come back for that second hug, and then that “just one more” hug. So in her very last days here in this world, true to her soul, she defied the odds and lived longer than any of us thought possible. One of her caregivers said, during these last days “when you look back, you will understand why your Mom/Grandma passed at the time that she did. It always happens that way. Trust me”. In the moment we did not understand; now we do.
In those extra days, when our Mom/Grandma could no longer speak, she did not want to leave without all of us having the proper time to process the pending lifechanging and heartbreaking loss. Mom/Grandma put her family above her own suffering till the very end, and found mysterious and profound ways to make sure all her loved ones were taken care of before she left. She whispered to us, she called to us, she pushed us. She whispered to us to discover the full Cold Moon, she called to us to embrace the dancing prism lights, she pushed us to find a sole satellite streaking across the sky.
We hope each of you who are reading this, take a moment to embrace your loves - whatever brings you joy in this life. Listen to those whispers, those calls, those pushes in your own life.
For those who wish to honor Sandra’s life of compassion and kindness, the family would love for you to consider donations to the Sterling Estates Employee Fund in her name, to help support the community of people who devotedly cared for Sandra around the clock, day in and day out during these last years. All of these caregivers are family. Please consider making a check out to Sterling Estates, and put “In Honor of Sandra Czuchry” on the memo line. Mail your donation to Sterling Estates West Cobb, 3165 Dallas Hwy SW. Marietta GA 30064.