TAYLOR, Sandra Lee Taylor RN, BSc

In 1951 the great physician and humanitarian, Albert Schwitzer addressed the graduating class at one of the Ivy League Universities.  He ended his speech with, “…the one thing I know; …the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” By all accounts, including her own, Sandra had a very happy life. If you knew Sandra, you loved her and she made you feel special.

She was born in Comox, B.C. to Pearl and George Taylor on 19 March, 1951. She had an older sister, Vicki, who predeceased her.  She is survived by her husband, Terry Lee and her niece, Jane. As important to her as she was to them, are friends, too numerous to list, and all would describe their relationship with her as “close”.

Graduating in Victoria from Mt. Douglas High School in 1969 she followed in her mother’s footsteps and graduated from nursing school in 1971. After nine months working as a nurse, she returned to school to study geology and then on to medical school, receiving her M.D. from the University of Calgary in 1981.

Sandra practiced family medicine in Victoria and ultimately focused on surgery, assisting in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. She would often enter the operating theatre in the morning and say to the attending surgeon, “I am your opposition today.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Every patient she attended in the operating room had a better outcome because of her presence. Operating room nurses, surgeons and anesthetists all knew it would be a good day if Sandra walked through the door. Surgery was her first love in medicine and she excelled. So much so that the final years of her career were spent treating patients with skin cancer. She truly loved her patients and they adored her. Although all doctors bear the title, ‘physician and surgeon’, Sandra was indeed a physician and a surgeon.

Sandra cannot be defined by a career in medicine alone. She loved gardening. In midlife she purchased a rocky slope of land and with the help of her good friend Alex, she turned it into a garden that would rival that of Mrs. Butchart. She and Terry expanded it to include a deluxe chicken coop and a market garden. She arranged the flowers she grew into amazing pieces of art. As a lifelong learner she travelled abroad to work with silversmiths and became a remarkably creative jeweler. Those fortunate enough to have her work will continue to think of her each time they wear one of her creations. She and Terry bred poodles and labradoodles. But where she truly excelled was as a friend.

Those who experienced the embrace of her friendship are so fortunate. Those characteristics that made her a good doctor – kindness, compassion, a nurturing spirit and generosity, are those things that made her a wonderful friend. She built bridges among her wide circle of friends. How many dinners did she host? How many parties did we have – all punctuated by that wonderful belly laugh she couldn’t control? Her drink of choice was champagne – its own effervescence matched only by her bubbly personality.  There will be no more parties quite like that.

She and Terry travelled extensively, often in the company of friends.  She was endlessly curious and always up for an adventure. If you travelled with her, you always saw more, experienced more culture and upon arriving home, wanted to head off with her once again.

Sandra was always in service in some way and to someone. The last months of her life were challenging. She met and handled that challenge as she lived her life – with dignity, grace and a pearl necklace. Those of us left to grieve, do so, but have the good fortune to have known and loved Sandra and have her memory indelibly etched in our memories. We are so proud of her.

The world is a smaller place without her. Will we miss her? Incredibly. Will we forget her? Never.

Goodbye dear Sandra and thank you for everything.

There will be a celebration of life announced at a later date.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com