Obituary: Sandy Crowe

CROWE, Sandy

Sandy Elizabeth Crowe (Grabchuk), 55, of Kensington, CT, passed away on Saturday, (July 23, 2011), surrounded by her family. Sandy was born and raised in Avon, CT, and graduated from Avon High School and Post College. She was the daughter of the late Alexander and Mary Grabchuk of Avon, CT. She was the beloved wife of Richard F. Crowe (35 years) of Kensington, CT. Sandy was a devoted and loving mother of Michelle and Brendan Bartley of Somerville, MA; Jennifer M. Crowe of West River, MD, and Michael T. Crowe of Kensington, CT, and grandmother of Zander M. Bartley of Somerville, MA. She also leaves her sister Teresa "Tisa" Knight of Jacksonville, FL, with whom she shared a special bond and her sister Gemma Garland. Sandy also leaves behind her loving mother-in-law Dorothy M. Crowe of Unionville, CT, as well as many devoted relatives. She also leaves behind her Best Friend and shopping buddy, Alice Mitchell, with whom she shared countless "Memory Days." She was an active member of the Berlin Community. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish, serving on the Parish Council as well as being a Eucharistic Minister. Sandy shared a special bond with Father Ed. As a long time member of the Berlin UpBeat Program, she served on the UpBeat Community team and the UpBeat Core Team. She was the UpBeat Director of the volunteers at the Hospital for Special Care. "Ma" Crowe's involvement with the UpBeat Peer Leadership Program impacted the lives of thousands of Berlin Youth. Sandy was the recipient of the Berlin UpBeat Peronace Volunteer Award and the "2010 Celebrate Berlin! Award" presented by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. As a cancer survivor, she was involved with a documentary on Stem Cell Transplant by Harvard Medical and Dana Farber. Please take a moment to view her story at www.hsci.harvard.edu/finding-cure-leukemia-stem-cell-story. The Crowe family would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Corey Cutler and his Stem Cell team at Dana Farber, as well as all of the doctors and staff at Hartford Hospital. The Berlin Community and most especially the youth of the community have lost a shining star in their beloved "Ma Crowe."
Friends may call at The Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main St., Rt. 4, Unionville on Tuesday (July 26) from 4-8 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated Wednesday (July 27) at 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Mary Star of the Sea, Unionville. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Avon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berlin UpBeat Program c/o Berlin High School, 139 Patterson Way, Berlin CT, 06037.