Our beautiful loving wife and mother passed away on April 20, 2024, at the age of 57 after a courageous battle with ALS. Sandra passed away peacefully in the Intensive Care Unit at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre with her family by her side. Sandra’s life was always defined by her family and friends. She loved, laughed and lived for all of us. She was the youngest child of hard-working immigrants, Maria and Giuseppe Floreancig, as well as the youngest sister to Irene and Albert. As a child, her home was filled with friends, Italian music, food, and love, where she was spoiled by her parents and siblings as the baby sister. It was her childhood that shaped Sandra's feisty and strong personality. Additionally, she was witty, had a great sense of humour, and was a great practical joker. As a student at St. Joseph and Port Arthur Collegiate, she formed lifelong friendships with Maria, Rose, Lily, and Silvanna.
In 1980, Sandra met the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Peter. Together they built an incredible life. The two had similar interests and goals and enjoyed watching their children's activities, dance and hockey road trips, travelling to sunny destinations, and simply watching movies and soap operas with a plate of nachos or a bowl of popcorn in the home they built together on Nottingham Crescent.
Sandra always loved fashion and had a plethora of clothes and shoes. She was classy and sophisticated and had a flair for fashion. Having dabbled in modelling, she was a natural on stage, winning numerous competitions. Sandra decided to start her education at Lakehead University. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts majoring in French and Spanish. With her love of languages, Sandra used this skill in her employment with Service Ontario - Office of the Registrar General. Sandra loved her job. During her employment, she met many lifelong friends and enjoyed walking to work and watching and photographing the sunrise over the sleeping giant from her office window.
As a mother, Sandra immersed herself in her children's lives and activities. When she wasn't baking or cooking healthy meals for the kids, she was shuttling Janessa to dance, or carpooling Max, Jackson and their friends to hockey or soccer games. The love she had for her kids was evident in her role as a mother; she was their biggest fan and forged lifelong relationships with the parents we met. Sandra belonged to a loving group of women who named themselves the "Dance Moms". Dawne, Fatima, Julie, Michelle B, Michelle G, Holly, Lucy, Eva and Lynn; together they travelled, hiked, snowshoed, drank rosé, and laughed together.
Whenever a friend or family member was in need, Sandra would step up immediately. Sandra organized many fundraising events, was involved in numerous charities, and often raised funds in her office. Sandra was an incredible example of generosity and selflessness. As an early riser, she often prepared lunches for the family, walked her two four-legged babies Zoe and Emma, or ran to the grocery store before her day had begun. But her favourite morning activity was going to RED ZONE and seeing her "girls" at the 6 AM class.
Sandra was predeceased by her father Giuseppe and in-laws, Irma and Valentino Buffone. She is survived by her husband Peter, and children Janessa (Blake), Jackson and Maxwell, Mother Maria, Brother Albert Floreancig (Paula) his children Dustin and Chelsea, Sister Irene Lacaria (Tony) their children Bruno (Ashley), Joey (Julie), Anthony (Nancy) and Micheal (Carliegh), sisters' in-laws Filomena Gregorash (Bill), Alma Provenzano (Tullio), their children Athena (Mitch) and Valena.
Sandra’s battle was made easier by her the loving and caring nurses Syndey, Krystianne, Jacob, Kyle, Chris, Ike, and Corie, and personal support worker Kylie. Special thanks to our beautiful family friend Crystal Danko who spent many hours taking care of Sandra.
Funeral Services for the late Sandra Buffone will be held on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, when family and friends will gather at St. Anthony's R.C. Church for the visitation from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by the Funeral Mass beginning at 12:30 p.m., celebrated by Fr. Luigi Filippini. Private entombment will follow at St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery. The Mass will be live streamed at the following link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6xwjojC5r8j-7H3uPQAnUA. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian ALS Society which provided Sandra with special equipment to make life easier the past two years, or to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation - Intensive Care Unit, where Sandra received incredible care during her time there.
"I wish we had more time to complete our dreams, watch our children start their careers and families, to live, laugh, and love you more"
