Pepperdine University sends its condolences to the husband, children and extended family of our alumna, Gloria Mae Sandwith. We are saddened to learn the news of her passing. Gloria lived a life of service to others and devotion to her family. We offer prayers of thanksgiving for her life and pray that all her loved ones will be comforted in this time of sorrow.

Sincerely,

Claudette LaCour

Director Alumni Relation

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

I was a patient of Gloria’s at Dr. Brown’s for many years. We used to chat and giggle throughout my hours spent with her which was hard for me with my mouth held open for most of the time. This made my dental cleaning almost enjoyable. At my last appointment with Gloria, we spoke about how she would fill her days after her retirement and she was so looking forward to spending time with her growing family. My heart goes out to all of you for your loss but I hope you all know how much you were loved.

David

My sincere condolences to you, Christine and family. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of loss and grief.

John

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere sympathy to the entire family in the loss of a daughter, wife, mother & grandmother. We got to know Goria through her work. She was so friendly and genuine and gave good advise. A very professional and caring lady. The world is a better place because of Gloria.

To the Sandwith Family.

I had the privilege to have received guidance from Gloria a few years ago. She helped me reach clarity and inner peace through some of the most difficult moments of my life, I will always be grateful to her for her gentle compassion and understanding. I was heart broken to hear the news of her passing. I know that she loved you all very much, when she spoke of you her eyes would light up and she always seemed so proud. May you find peace together through this difficult time. In deepest Sympathy, Marie-Claude Osterrath S.E. Calgary.

I was a patient of Gloria’s for over nineteen years and enjoyed my visits with her at Dr. Brown’s office where we shared stories of family, hobbies, holidays and the joys of being grandparents. She was a beautiful caring person and my heart goes out to all her family for their loss. I know that she will be truly missed.

Dear Aunt Viola, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, Kevin, David, Marissa and Chelsea and all other family members, It is with a heavy heart that I am thinking about you all as you are celebrating Gloria’s life right now. It hurts to lose her and all that we can do is to hang on to wonderful memories, and the blessed hope that we will see her again healthy and strong. I pray that God will put His arms around you all and hold you close. We love you Aunt Viola and all my cousins.

With love and prayers,

Sharon & Rick

Dearest Marissa and Chelsea

Your mom is pure love, kindness, warmth, generosity, understanding, determination, strength, comfort, patience, and beauty.

She is reflected so much in both of you.

Remember she is always near and with you in spirit. She will continue to send you warmth in your heart and love throughout your lives. You will feel her with you, she loves you eternally.

I wish you peace at this time.

Sending you so much love,

Sara

Dear Dr. Sandwith,

We are so very sorry to hear of your wife’s passing. Our sincere, heartfelt sympathy is with you. “Death leaves a heartache difficult to heal; Love leaves sweet memories no one can steal.”

Amy & Jamie Robinson

Although I was only a patient of Gloria’s, over many years we became friends who shared stories and enjoyed conversations over lunch. I knew how much she adored David, her two daughters and their families, his daughter and all her extended family. She always spoke so lovingly of each one. Gloria was a beautiful, precious soul inside and out and she will be truly missed. I can’t believe she is gone. It saddens me so much.

My Dear, Dear Viola, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, and Kevin and your precious families. I was so saddened to hear of Gloria’s illness and then when I heard she lost her battle, I felt even worse. What a beautiful Mommy she was with those two beautiful little daughters who are now grown up. I can only picture them as they were when they were little. I am praying for strength for you all as you come together as a family. What a blessed day it will be when Jesus comes to claim his own and we can see Delvin, Leonard and Gloria again. Of course I will be looking for Dave too. If we don’t see each other again on this earth, let’s all plan to meet at the Tree of Life when Jesus comes. I love you all and wish I could be there to hug each one of you.

Love and prayers,

LaVerne (Sister-in-law & Aunt)

Marissa & Chelsea–Although I have not seen you two since you were little girls, my heart still goes out to you on the loss of your precious Mom. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers for strength to face your loss.

Love and prayers,

Your Great Aunt LaVerne

David–Although I never had the privilege of meeting you, I heard how wonderful you were to my precious niece and I thank you. I’m sort of partial to your name since my late husband (Gloria’s Uncle Dave) shared the same name. I pray for strength to face tomorrow in your time of grief.

God bless–Gloria’s Aunt LaVerne

Dear Dr. Sandwith:

We were truly saddened to learn of your wife’s death. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Denise & Wayne

To all of Gloria’s family (immediate & extended), as well as her close friends.

I was a patient of Gloria’s for many years and appreciated her level of expertise and professionalism. I must say that I was truly saddened by the news of her passing. She was a gracious person who enjoyed life.

May you find comfort in the love of family, strength within your faith and peace with each passing day.

God Bless you

Chelsea, Marissa, David and family,

Life is not about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain, Chelsea, and though tears now fall in your mother’s loving memory, and there is a huge hole in your heart, she is at peace, honey, and lives forever more through you, Marissa and her grand-children… Continue to live with the grace, strength and humility your mother led by. We are all a little better off for having met Gloria… and I find comforted that she left this world knowing she made a significant difference to many people’s lives. As a young single mother myself, I will fondly remember and cherish forever the conversations she and I shared, and the time spent with you and your family during our Mount Royal years. I’m deeply touched by this news and pray that all of you will find the peace and courage needed to go on… you must.

Chelsea, though I physically am not there Saturday with you, my tears flow freely now writing this note, and I share your pain and loss. A long warm e-hug for you… my thoughts and prayers and love to you all.

Christine

Dear Dave and family: I was in disbelief when I heard of the passing of Gloria. I will cherish the moments we shared with you and Gloria at council gatherings. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lloyd and Linda

I am very, very sorry for the loss of my dearest first, and best friend I had in this country, Gloria.

Gloria always was a supportive and loving friend. She made us feel, to me and my family, welcome in this new country, and particularly in my case, she gave me self confidence and courage to keep going. She was more than a friend, she was my sister. Always taking care of every detail, Gloria was this kind of person who you always can count with and trust on her. I don’t have enough words to express all the thanks that I have for her. I will miss her friendship, company and beautiful smile coming from her loving heart.

I want to send in my name and of my entire family, my most deep, sincere simpathy to all her family. I am witness of her love for her family, her dedication to all of them especially for her grandchildren who were her pride, and her love for her husband Dave.

May God receive her with open arms in her kingdom, because she deserves it…

May God deliver to all people that loved her, the strength and the courage that she taught us, to keep going…

May God brings us the wisdom to appreciate the value in her words as well as the open heart that leads us to honoring her life by keeping these words as treasures in our hearts…

Go in peace my dearest friend. We will miss you…

David, Chelsea, Marissa, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, Kevin (and Holli) and Auntie Viola: Our hearts and prayers are with you. We are there with you in spirit.

Your cousins, Kimmie and Paul

Dear Dr. Sandwith,

We are very sorry to hear about your wife. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and your family.

Brian and Lorraine Noble

Dear Dave and family,

I am so sad to hear of your loss. I was lucky to have met Gloria at the Folk Festival a few years ago and she was a lovely person. On behalf of myself and the doctors and staff of the 9th Avenue Animal Clinic, I want to extend my deepest condolences.

Dear David, Marissa, Chelsea and Christine,

So sorry to hear about Gloria, I worked with Gloria at Dr.Brown and Dr.Monzingo’s for 12 years, she was a wonderful lady, such a great wife and mother to the girls.

We had many laughs about family, we also talked so much about animals, a great love for both of us.

Gloria’s patients loved her so much, loved her work and the wonderful way she handled each one.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time, take care

Dear Auntie Viola, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, and Kevin along with each of your families (some I’ve never had the pleasure to meet). My heart aches for all of you. Even as this event brings families together…it will be bittersweet. I am looking forward to seeing all who will be there to honor Gloria on Saturday. Hugs and tears! I love you all!

Your loving niece and cousin,

Crystal

Dear David,

We have known you as our vet for many years and only had the pleasure of meeting Gloria once. You were having a lovely walk hand in hand by Fish Creek Park and you came in and shared a glass of wine and a visit with us. We were so happy you had found each other and took such joy in each other’s company. Please know that you have our deepest sympathy and you and your family are in our prayers. Ron and Judy Quigley

I can remember when Gloria was there to support our family in a terrible time. It was by chance we met her at the Folk Fest but she was so welcoming, open-minded and warm. I didn’t know her very well, but from the few times we did meet, I knew she was an amazing woman. God’s love and comfort to all of you.

Christy Larson

My deepest condolences to all of Gloria’s family .. she was a beautiful lady and awesome Gramma to Caleb. My thoughts are with you David and Christine. Love Dawn

I met Gloria through her daughter, Marissa, who is a friend of my daughter, Christy. Gloria reached out to me in my time of need and I remember her as a warm, caring and beautiful woman. My heart goes out to her family and friends. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Gloria worked with me as a dental hygienist for many years in Huntington Beach, California. I really never thought of her as an employee but rather a fellow professional and a good friend, which she was. In fact, she was a consummate professional. Her patients loved her and asked about her years after she moved back to Canada.

As, I am sure, most of you know, her daughters were the light of her life as she raised them as a single parent. I feel honored to have known her and Marissa and Chelsea.

I wish her family and loved ones God’s comfort during this sad time. I will always think of her fondly and will miss her radiate smile and spirit.

Mel Cohen

Dear Auntie Viola, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, Kevin, David, Marissa, Chelsea, and all the rest of you,

My heart aches for you – and has ached since I first heard the word cancer associated with Gloria’s name. I know the dread that fills one’s heart when you hear that word with your loved one’s name – it’s so frightening.

I remember Gloria’s voice – so calmly talking to me and sharing about the peace she was feeling even while preparing for her first chemo treatment. I know how much she loved each one of you.

I can imagine how much each of you are missing her in your own special ways, and would love to have her back, whole and healthy. However, we do have the promise of eternal life – and we’ll pray for that day to come soon – when we can all be together again.

Love – Judy

My deepest condolences to Gloria’s family. As Chelsea’s friend, I have had the pleasure to get to know her family and Gloria was truly an inspiration! Her positive energy, friendly personality, encouragement and support was something I could always count on. Like the daughters she raised, Gloria was a beautiful and amazing women. She will always be remembered and her presence will be greatly missed.

-Tracy

Aunt Viola, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, Kevin, David, Marissa and Chelsea and all other family members:

Our deepest condolences to each and every one of you. You have been and are all in our thoughts and prayers. The death of a parent–we both understand and we share deeply with both of you Chelsea and Marissa. The death of a child–we have no understanding at all, but we are with you in deepest sympathy Aunt Viola. The death of a sister–we don’t understand either, but we try to understand and we share your loss Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn and Kevin.

Cancer is horrible word–I face it every day and with every passing day I hate it worse! Death is a horrible word and a horrible concept. I hate it equally much. I look forward to the day when death will be no more!

May God be with you all in your time of loss.

Barry & Alberta

Dear Aunt Viola, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, Kevin, David, Marissa & Chelsea

Our hearts go out to all of you. We can’t even begin to understand your pain. Even though there is relief that she is no longer suffering in pain, it never out weighs the heartache of not having her here anymore.

We can’t wait for the day when we will see ALL our loved ones again.

We love you all.

Chelsea, Marissa, Merv, Sherry, Lyndon, Jerralyn, Kevin and Auntie Viola: My heartfelt condolences go out to all of you.

I find it very hard to express my feelings.

Chelsea and Marissa – when you were living in California with your mom, her and I would write back and forth all the time. She would tell me all about both of you and as you both grew up, what you were involved in. I shared with her all about my daughters, Tracy and Keri. Through the photos she sent me, I could see how proud she was of both of you. Once you all moved to Calgary and started a new life there, we gradually stopped writing; though I thought of her often. She was a wonderful person.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.

Love Joyce

To the whole Family I just want to say that Gloria was such a gracious, loving kind, generous Wife, Mother, Daugther, Sister, and Friend. She will be truly missed by all of us. We loved Her.

Gloria is my first niece. Learning of her death leaves me heart-broken. I have always been proud of her. She set the pace for her siblings as a loving, gentle and gracious person. And, I love you my dear nieces, Sherry & Jerralyn; my dear nephews, Mervin, Lyndon & Kevin. Then in a special way, Viola who honoured the Paul and Anna Devnich family when you married my brother and so nobly raised such a wonderful family of children, I love you and I have you in my thoughts every day. Leonard had a wife who, in the words of the Wise man of Proverbs said: “Her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusted her” (Prov. 31:10, 11). All of you are precious to me and I pray God will give you strength to endure your immense loss.

From our hearts to your hearts–

Brother-in-Law and Uncle Douglas along with Aunt Rene.

Dear Auntie Viola and family.

We are so sorry you lost your precious

girl. Our heart aches for you and your whole family. Hang on to all the great memories.

Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Just want to tell you all that we are so sad at losing Gloria. You will miss her but look forward to the promises of God and the comfort He can give. We will continue to pray for all of you.

It wish to extend my condolences to all of Gloria’s family. I was so blessed to have such a beautiful friend in Gloria. She was so devoted to her family, husband and many friends. I have beautiful memories of our time together, and am very thankful for that.

Maggie

Dear Viola, Mervin, Sherry, Jerralyn and family,

I was so saddened when I heard the news about Gloria. She was such a sweet and precious girl, and I know that you will miss her a lot.

I remember her as my very best childhood friend and have so many wonderful memories of our good times together, and I remember good times with your whole family in Lacombe when we lived behind you. You are all special to me.

Someday we will have a wonderful reunion with Gloria in the earth made new. I look forward to that day. No more tears! You are in my prayers.

hugs, Darla