SANDRA CRAIG BROWNELL April 9, 1943 – Oct. 26, 2018
Sandra (Sandy) Craig Brownell, 75, of Los Alamos passed away peacefully after an extended illness on October 26, 2018 at St. Vincent’s Hospice in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her funeral service will be held in Los Alamos, New Mexico at The United Church on Canyon Road: public visitation with family on November 16 at 6:30 pm, funeral service on November 17th at 10:30 am with an internment at the church’s Columbarium.
Sandy was born on April 9, 1943 in Oneonta, New York to William and Ruth Craig. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in mathematics at the State University of New York, Albany in 1965. She was a beloved junior high and middle school math teacher in San Mateo, California and Los Alamos, New Mexico. Sandy was married to John (Jack) H. Brownell on June 26, 1965. Together they raised two children, Robert Brownell and Laura Jarmer.
Sandy loved to garden and was active in her community, volunteering at elections, leading Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts activities, supporting sporting events in the stands as well as refereeing volleyball. She coached cheerleading and was active in hiking and book clubs. She was well known for baking cookies and sharing them with friends all over the community. She was proud to be a gold medal winner in the New Mexico Senior Olympics for basketball and a member of The United Church of Los Alamos.
Her family pays this tribute to her: “Sandy was a mom who would do absolutely anything for her family. She dearly loved her students, friends, and family. She went to great lengths to take care of them and let them know they were special. She had an eternally positive attitude and had a profound impact on so many lives both in her teaching and they way she lived her life. She will be sorely missed.”
Sandy was preceded in death by her parents and her brother John. She is survived by her brothers, William and David, children, Rob (Cindy Brownell) and Laura (Chuck Kirkpatrick), her grandchildren, Morgan, Collin, Brayden, Grace, Avery, Eli, and her former husband Jack.
Her funeral service will be held in Los Alamos, New Mexico at The United Church on Canyon Road: public visitation with family on November 16 at 6:30 pm, funeral service on November 17th at 10:30 am with an internment at the church’s Columbarium.
