Sandra Rae Hilland of Livingston, Texas passed away on September 15, 2024, at the age of 75. She was born May 8, 1949, on Mother's Day, to Louis and Gertrude (Brown) Opiela in Amsterdam, New York.
Sandra was born prematurely, weighing only 2 pounds and was a fighter her entire life. She was an only child. She graduated in 1967 from Wilbur H. Lynch High School in Amsterdam, New York. She began her career as a candy striper at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam. After receiving her Nursing degree from Fulton Montgomery Community College and having her two children, she worked as a school nurse at St. Stanislaus Catholic school in Amsterdam. Later she enjoyed working for the Planned Parenthood organization in Catskill, NY where the family moved. Later, after she and James divorced, Sandra met and married Vincent and she moved to California for a short while. The couple then moved to Galveston, Texas where they enjoyed living by the water.
Sandra continued her education while in Texas and earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in Healthcare Administration. Her degree took her and Vince to Llano, Fredericksburg, and to Livingston, Texas, where she was the Administrator for various Nursing Homes.
Upon Vince's passing she traveled to Bergen, Norway but found her way back to Livingston, Texas where her life's journey led her to her encounter with her final life-mate, Charles Robert Hilland. After their marriage, when it was discovered that ?Bob? had become ill with cancer, Sandra retired early so the couple could spend quality time together.
Sandra enjoyed playing the piano, as she was always very active in the Episcopal churches she attended, cooking, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and the New York Yankees!
Sandra is survived by her two children Shelley Rena & her husband Joe and Tracey Rogers; stepchildren, Jeff Hilland, Jere Hilland & wife Jennifer; grandchildren, Ashley Rae Suescun, Sabrina Rena, Courtney Rogers, James Rogers-Baer, Thomas Rogers-Peck; great grandchildren, Amber Rogers, Coral Rogers, Harlen Rogers, Marshall Rogers-Baer; numerous other family members & a host of friends.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, James F. Rogers, Vincent VanLynn, and Charles Robert Hilland.
A celebration of Sandra's Life will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Pace Funeral Home, Livingston, Texas with Brother Mike Lofton officiating.
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