Sandra Louise Galich

The life of Sandra Louise Galich

When asked to write my mom’s obituary I had a hard time bring myself to doing it, not because i didn’t want to do it, it was because I didn’t want to do the same old obituary.  She deserved better.

Mom (Sandra Louise Galich) passed away at our home we shared together on Sept. 12, 2013. She had beaten cancer twice, but it was pancreatitis  and liver cancer that took her from me. When I think of my mom I get a flutter  of emotion, she was so much to me. She was my mom, my best friend, my soul-mate.  She was my protector, my provider, my therapist. And as a friend recently put it, the love of my life.  She was the person who stayed by my side when i was sick and never blamed me for having to work because of my ailments. She took care of me and my daughter Rylee. We spent the day’s and evenings with each other, from going to the grocery store, to taking my daughter to school in the mornings, to having dinner together and watching our favorite show’s. So her death has affected me in every way. I never got tired of being with her.  We never got into fights, she never irritated me or upset me.  Even as a child I always wanted to be with her. I was a momma’s girl and a loner because  of it, but I didn’t mind it at all. When other kids went through the stage of thinking there parents were dumb or embarrassing, or that they didn’t know what was cool or not. I continued to always want to be by her side.
 
She had always said her dream and purpose on earth was to have children. She met our father (Daniel French- deceased) in her early 20’s in Pueblo Colorado. They never married but were partner’s then friends for over 45 yrs. Mom fulfilled her dream of having children. She had 3 girls, me (Skylee), Udana and Raven, who passed away in 1989 at age 17.
 
Mom never believed in grounding us when we did something wrong; she believed in sitting us down and communicating when us, talking to us about what we did and why it was wrong. She told us the difference between right and wrongt and how to treat others with love and kindness. She had so much patience with us as kids. Never yelled or anything. She said the only thing she asked God for was patience, and He delivered. She was incredibly patient with us and continued to show that patience with my daughter. I wish I had half the patience she had.
 
She welcomed our friends with open arms growing up. She was even like a second mom to some of them. We’d have a couple friends that would stay at our house for days, even during the school year and she was OK with it. I think it was because she knew they were getting something they needed out of being at our house that they weren’t getting at there own home. And even though she was done raising kids and this was supposed to be her time in life, she was willing to continue taking care of me and after having my daughter, she was willing to take care of her too. They were best buddy’s. Over half the time when something was wrong with Rylee, she would run to mom (Rylee called her GG) because she knew GG would be understanding and patient with her. Mom provided Rylee with everything a child could possibly want and need; she spoiled her rotten. When Rylee wasn’t in school, she was with us so basically, she was with us all the time and my mom loved and adored her so much. Taking care of me and Rylee was my mom’s most important priority and she worried so much of what would happen to us when she was gone. She never was afraid of dying or getting sick and being in pain; she worried about what would happen to Rylee and me, and who would take care of us because I am sick all the time.  She not only took care my daughter and me, she took care of the elderly in the final stages of their lives.
 
She had a work ethic like no other. She always told us growing up that you don’t call in sick unless your dying. She worked the whole time she went through chemotherapy. She went back to work in four weeks after having part of her lung removed with her second bout of cancer. And when she had major surgery on her shoulder, and was suppose to be out of work for eight weeks, she went back to work in just three weeks. Sandra was 70 years old and continued working up until 1-1/2 months before dying. And that was only because she was stuck in the hospital. She loved what she did and was the best at it. She was highly regarded in her field of work, even when she wasn’t crazy about her patient or excited about her hour. She never believed in leaving a job until she had helped the patient cross over into the afterlife.  She didn’t believe in ove- medicating her patients. She believed they deserved respect and kindness and made sure they passed with dignity.
 
I guess some might think I put her on to high of a pedestal, but in my eyes she was perfect in every way. People say in time it will get easier, that it won’t it won’t hurt so much in time. To give it time. But I believe I’ll never be the same again. She was and is to much a part of me. I don’t think I’ll be completely happy again until my passing and we are reunited.
 
I will love and miss her always and it will hurt ten yearss from now as it did when she passed three weeks ago.
 
My mom (Sandra  Louise Galich) is survived by me (Skylee French); my husband Bob Olson; granddaughter Rylee Raven; and step grand kids Te’Ann, husband Tony Craig, Zack and Bobby Olson;  daughter Udana and husband Scott Coyne; daughter Raven and partner in life Robert (both deceased Aug 16, 1989);  and last, partner and friend Daniel French  (deceased Jan 29, 2010).
 
She will be missed by many and loved my all.
 
I love you momma.