Sandra (Sandy) Weaver Stoddard, 82, of Kirkland, IL, passed away on December 19, 2023, in DeKalb, IL, at Kishwaukee Hospital. Born a redhead, she was the second daughter to Clarence Edward and Dorothy (Watson) Weaver in DeKalb, IL, on December 17, 1941, and grew up on the family farm in Clare, IL. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Sycamore High School in 1959. In 1960, she married Charles (Chuck) Stoddard from Malta, and they had two daughters, Katie and Linda, born 14 months apart. Sandra often treated and dressed the girls like twins because of their close ages. Sandra was an excellent mother to her young girls and believed "kids need to be kids." She impressed upon them kindness, imagination, dreaming, and playing. Sandy enjoyed making the smallest of things into a little 'party.'

Sandra, a lifelong learner and dreamer, loved having intellectual conversations, was an avid reader, enjoyed music of all genres, and had various interests, including genealogy, art, traveling, and watching European football and the Olympics. Because she loved learning, she could strike up a conversation with anyone and loved the diversity among people, religion, culture, and community. Sandra decided she wanted to become a nurse while the girls were in grade school and attended and graduated with her RN from Sauk Valley Community College. After she and Chuck divorced, she and her close friend, Lois Layne, traveled to Turkey to see their friend, Isik. She dreamed of sightseeing in Germany and had the opportunity to work as an ICU nurse at the British Army Hospital in Iserlohn, Germany, for 5 years. After her return to Illinois, she worked at Kishwaukee Hospital as an ICU nurse, but her passion was her 20+ year career working as a psychiatry nurse with Drs. Dennison and Kirts in the Behavioral Health Department.

Sandra's survivors include daughters, Catherine "Katie" Stoddard, DeKalb County, IL, and Linda (Daniel) Roushia, Sterling, IL. Former spouse, Charles Stoddard of Sterling. Siblings, Sherry (Richard) Heimerdinger, Pinehurst, NC, David (Jayne) Weaver, Lincoln, IL. Sister-in-law Connie Weaver, Clare. Grandchildren, Kaelin (Jeff Cox) Lapp, Ian (Emily) Mills, Clarissa (Sarah, Van) Worcester, and great-grandchildren Owen and baby boy Mills. Aunt Betty Johnson, Sycamore. Uncle Wilber Watson, Kirkland, as well as nieces, nephews, many cousins, and countless friends of all ages from all over.

Preceded in her death were her parents, Ed and Dorothy Weaver, baby sister Connie Lou, brother Donald Weaver, and partner Rabbie Munro.

The family gives heartfelt thanks to Colette Theurer, Dr. Thakkar, Dr. Dennison, Pam Brinkmeier, Kirkland Police Chief Davenport, Kirkland Fire Chief Connell, Kirkland Community Fire Dept, Genoa Kingston Fire Dept, Drs. Ghadai, Grujic, and A. Morker, Kishwaukee Hospital's ICU and med-surg staff, Heartland Hospice nurses Red and Megan, Janice Butala and family, Forest City Nurse Honor Guard, Pastor Christina Berry of Sterling, and all of Sandra's friends and family who visited her in person and by phone while in ICU and Hospice.

In place of flowers, please feel free to send a memorial in her honor to any mental health organization of your choice.

Visitation is from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Friday, January 19, 2024, at Butala Funeral Home, 1405 DeKalb Av, Sycamore.

Funeral memorial services will be on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 11:00 am at Butala Funeral Home in Sycamore. Immediately following the service, there will be a luncheon at the Malta Historical Society Building, 127 South Third St, Malta to start at 12:30 pm.

Sandra's cremated remains will be buried this spring beside her parents in the Malta Cemetery.

For information call 815-895-2833. To send a condolence or share a memory of Sandy, visit www.butalafuneralhomes.com.