Sandra Van Wagner-Cowan, 83, of Merrimac, MA passed away on Monday, January 3, 2022, with her family by her side. Born in Glen Cove, NY on October 27, 1938, Sandy was the youngest of Harry and Milda (Vogel) Van Wagner’s six children. Her siblings Paula, Dave, Anita, and Meryl have all passed as has her second husband, Ray R Cowan. She is survived by her sister Pat Swanson.
Love of family and caring for others was central to her life. She never met a soul she wouldn’t drop everything to care for or assist. Notably, in her late 60s, she traveled to New Orleans to help with the cleanup and recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Sandy made an impact on many lives by being there when they needed support and help during difficult times
Sandy also reinvented herself many times over the years, moving from stay-at-home Mom to single parent provider to main breadwinner, finally ending with a career in computers and databases in her late 60s and early 70s. She enjoyed working with folks at the Milbrook School, New York’s DCMO BOCES, the American Cancer Society, and Harney Real Estate, as well as volunteering at many churches throughout her life.
Sandy loved to travel and spend time with her family. Trips to Hawaii, vacations at the beach, cross-country travels to see the wonders of America - like her mother before her, if there was an opportunity to travel, Sandy was up for it. Among her favorite trips were the times she spent in the great national parks of the midwest with Ray, trips to Hawaii with her daughter Dawn and her mother Milda, a cross country drive with her son Dan when he moved to California, many trips to the South to see her son Scott and his family, and visiting her daughter Joy in Norway when Joy was a Rotary exchange student.
Sandy’s children, Scott, Dawn, Joy, and Dan as well as her grandchildren, Emily, Christopher, Daniel, Jonathan, Erika, Alex, and Eddie will miss her dearly - as will pets everywhere who will get less table food from now on.
In lieu of flowers, donations to https://www.alzbuddies.org/ or https://www.cancer.org/ in Sandy’s honor would be appreciated.
Arrangements are by Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Home, 36 West Main Street, Merrimac, MA. 01860.