Obituary of Sandra MacColl

Sandra Jean MacColl - facilitator, foodie, artist, actor, teacher, traveller, mentor and muse - died on July 17, 2015, 72 years and 10 days after she was born to Hugh and Mary MacColl, in Canora, Saskatchewan. In that short span of time, Sandra had a positive effect on countless people. A Junior High teacher of English, French and Art for 37 years (a feat deserving of a medal all in itself!), she is often remembered by former students as a favourite. She was a traveller. As a teacher, she took time to work in the exotic borough of Bengough, Saskatchewan, the tangy town of Mayo, Yukon, and near the wee bonnie brooks of Stirling, Scotland. As an explorer, she visited many locales including Scotland, England, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Gibraltar, Germany, Holland, Cypress and Wales. After a year teaching in Bengough, she decided she needed to calm down a little from the excitement there, and went off to make love, not war, in the beatnik scene of Toronto. She worked at the Riverboat Coffeehouse in Yorkville and met, and rubbed shoulders with, the likes of Ian and Sylvia Tyson, Jesse Collin Young from the Youngbloods, Zal Yanovsky from the Lovin' Spoonful, Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Dylan. After some time away, she returned to teach in the Yorkton area and became one of the world's great environmentalists and record-keeper. Nothing was wasted, little thrown away. Everything had the potential for a second life. Minutes from every meeting ever attended,… ideas, thoughts, suggestions and "ah ha" moments written on envelopes, napkins, notepads, scraps of paper, and calendars, … beads, baubles, paint and pictures - all were saved and stored because Sandra knew that someday, somewhere, SOMEONE was going to need that exact item! Sandra Jean was a woman of many talents who dabbled in many areas and excelled in most. At various times throughout her life, she was an actor, director, and artist. She was a potter, a photographer, and a gardener. She knitted, crocheted and sewed and was a lover and collector of antiques and items of beauty. She loved to read and loved to cook. Sandra delighted in taking a great recipe and making it better (to which salivating friends and families can attest). No matter what she did, she did it with style and flair and passion - always giving it 150 percent. Family, friends, her church, her cats, the arts - all were great loves of Sandra, and because of the type of person she was, she was loved back by all. She won awards right from elementary school through high school, university and beyond - a CGIT trip to Stratford, scholarships and honours at school, the Zone 4 Recognition for Arts (1992), the SSEA Provincial Volunteer Recognition Award (1992) and, just this winter, a nomination by her good friends and strong supporters for the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. Solely, or co-creatively with other inspirational minds, Sandra was in one way, shape or form, responsible for or at least a large part of many initiatives. A partial list of these would include the following: ART for YOUth, Sask Culture Board of Directors, Yorkton Public Library Board, pARTners gallery. SSEA Provincial & Local Board member, Executive positions with Yorkton Arts Council, Instrumental in establishing the Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre in Yorkton, Co-founder of Sunflower (arts and craft exhibition running over 35 years.), Cultural co-chair Saskatchewan 2000 Summer Games, ARTARAMA, Organized the Antique Family Treasures Road Show, Three Wisewomen show and sale of artistic Christmas gifts, Renaissance Yorkton, Church volunteering, Sandra's Verandah - with her love and knowledge of antiques, Sandra started her own antique and collectibles business. Sandra was predeceased by her mother and father, Mary (Strilioff) and Hugh MacColl, sisters, Alicia Lomas and Lauralee Nogue, brothers in law, Richard Lomas and Mitch Palmer and niece, Shelley (Hall) Melnychuk. She leaves behind to mourn, but celebrate her life, her sisters, Joan Hall and Sharon Palmer, her brother, Robin MacColl, and many nieces and nephews: Susan, Karen, Debbie, Cheryl, John, James, Shawn, Scott, Ryan, Michael, Jeffrey, Sharalee, Sandie Ann, Nisha and Kate. She also had great and great-great nieces and nephews, too numerous to list, but not forgotten. Funeral Servoices were held on Saturday, July 25, 2015, from St. Andrew's United Church in Yorkton with Rev. Jen Dresser officiating. The organist, Shani Apland with members of the church choir led the congregation in the singing of the hymns ‘This Is God's Wondrous World' and ‘We Shall Go Out'. Sharalee Chwaliszewski sang a solo ‘It's A Wonderful World'. Tributes and words of remembrance were given by Tami Hall, Debbie Maskus, Susan Flett, Merle Sherwin and Shirley Huziak. Vivian Mason read the 23rd Psalm. Piper, Ferne Katzberg played the recessional ‘Skye Boat Song' and at the graveside played ‘Amazing Grace'. Interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery. Andre Nogue gave a tribute prayer at the graveside. The urn bearers were Sandra's sisters, Sharon Palmer and Joan Hall and Sandra's brother, Robin MacColl. Memorials in memory of Sandra may be made towards the Guardian Angel Animal Rescue Yorkton. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome .com Service Information Saturday, July 25th, 2015 2:00pm, St. Andrew's United Church