Sandra J. Smithhart

May 02, 1939 — October 14, 2023

Sandra Smithhart

Service Details

Sandra Jean Smithhart, my sweet Mama and my favorite girl, passed away peacefully & gained her angel wings on October 14, 2023. She was 84 years, 5 months and 12 days old, and I was blessed to be holding her hand when she took her last breath. It was an incredibly sacred moment.

Sandi was born on May 2, 1939 in Des Moines, IA to Howard & Helen (Stamper) Gordon. She graduated from East High School in 1957 and married her high school sweetheart, Bob, in September of that year.

Bob & Sandi resided on the East side of Des Moines after they were married, had their daughter Cindi Ann in 1964, and moved into the home they built in Carlisle in 1966. They were married 56 years when Bob passed away on September 23, 2013.

Sandi was fiercely independent, particular, meticulous, thorough, organized, detailed, creative, curious, giving, fun, and she loved doing for others. She worked in various administrative jobs over the years, then helped her sister-in-law Betty with her bridal shop business. She loved jewelry, sweets, pizza & onion rings, Tasty Tacos, sitting in the sun, watching movies, experimenting with recipes, organizing groups of friends for dinner & movie outings, traveling (to Hawaii, Table Rock Lake in southern Missouri for annual summer vacations, Chicago, Las Vegas, Scottsdale, and many places with Bob on business trips for the Institute of Home Office Underwriters where they made so many close friendships).

Sandi had one sister (Judith Ann, who died of pneumonia at the age of 9 months) and three brothers, Larry, Chuck and Steve. She so loved her family and was always there to support and encourage them.

Sandi is survived by her daughter Cindi Ramaeker (Tom) of Omaha, NE; brother Larry of Waterloo, IA; sister-in-law Barbara of Holiday Island, AR; nieces Lori Clark (Kevin), Lisa Newman (Adam), and Jennifer Schafer (Ray); three great nephews Nicholas Clark (Kate and son Cole), Iain Newman, and Owen Newman; one great niece Brooklynn McCaughey (Keith and daughter Landri); one aunt Marietta Cobb; and cousins Jim Blessman (Beth), Sue Lapour (Tom), Toni Schlapia (Ron and daughter Jennifer & family), Jacque Nelson (Kevin and daughters Stefanie & family and Brooke), Shirley Marecak (Mike), Nancy Kirtley, Michael Stamper, Amy Sylvain (Russell), William Stamper (Robin), Laura Stamper.

She is preceded in death by her husband Bob, parents Howard & Helen, brothers Chuck & Steve, sister Judith, sister-in-law Betty, nephew Terrence, aunts & uncles Owen & Dorothy Campbell, Leroy & Betty Blessman, Harry & Corinne Stamper, WA Stephens, Dean Cobb, and cousin Beth Ann Stamper.

In lieu of a visitation, funeral service, or celebration of life, we relish the opportunity we had to celebrate Sandi on her 84th birthday this past May. As we reflect on that day, we realize what a blessing it was to have 30 members of her family & beloved friends together celebrating my sweet Mama. She felt sooooooo much love that day.

May God bless my sweet angel Mama, my favorite girl. I pray she & my angel Dad will watch over me & my sweet hubby Tom as we honor their lives and the legacy they left behind.

If you feel compelled to send a memorial, I invite you to choose from one of the following:
1. a meaningful charity of your choice, because my sweet Mama was an independent thinker & didn't like to be told what to do

2. Wesley Employee Appreciation Fund ~ this fund is used to thank each hourly employee at Wesley on Grand where my sweet Mama lived since May 2015 after her strokes. This fund was established to allow residents an opportunity to express gratitude and thanksgiving for all the hard work, kind concern, and good nature given to residents by these employees throughout the year. Checks need to be received by November 3, 2023 to allow time for the employee checks to be processed.

Wesley Employee Appreciation Fund
3520 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312

3. WesleyLife Hospice who compassionately & lovingly supported & guided my sweet Mama & me through her final earthly journey

WesleyLife Hospice
4328 – 114th Street
Urbandale, IA 50322

4. or you may take a plate of homemade baked goods to a friend or organize a group of friends for dinner or a movie as these were her favorite things to do

You may click on the video below to listen to Frank Sinatra sing My Way… a beautiful tribute to the way my sweet Mama lived her life, and one of her favorite songs.

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