Funeral Service
Time: 12.30pm
Date: Friday 1st September 2023
Service Details:
The service will be held in St Peter & St Paul's Church, Rishton followed by cremation at Accrington Crematorium
Sandra Ann Pendergast
On 18th of August 2023, peacefully in hospital, surrounded by her beloved family Sandra aged 76 years of Rishton. Sandra was the dearly loved wife of Michael, treasured mother of Andrew, Daniel and Matthew, adored mother in-law of Kelly, Laura and Katy, devoted grandma to Thomas, Lily, Molly, Henry, Elsie, Louis and Ada, dear sister of Colin, Derek and the late Barbara, sister in-law of Colin, Linda and the late Maureen, loving auntie and great friend to many – a daughter reunited with her cherished late mother and father Ada and Thomas.
Sandra, a lifelong Rishtoner, attended both the Methodist and St Peter and Paul’s Primary Schools before moving onto Norden High School for her secondary education. She openly admitted that she never liked school and often tried her best to get out of going. Her working life began at the age of 16 at Rishton Paper mill, where she made many good friends. She often told tales of keeping her colleagues entertained, due to the absence of a radio, by using her talent for whistling by delivering a variety of tunes on request. Sandra first met her partner of 55 years on a ‘blind date’ at The Hare and Hounds pub in Clayton-le-Moors, which was arranged by her brother in law, Colin, who convinced his colleague, who worked at Allspeeds- Michael, to meet up with her by sharing a photograph of her at work. Little did she know that she would go on to share the rest of her life with Michael, 46 years of which were spent happily married.
Sandra had her first child, Andrew, at the age of 30, and went on to have another two boys- Daniel and Matthew. She was always an absolute devoted mother. She lived for her boys, and always ensured that they had the best of everything and were loved unconditionally.
Sandra later worked at the local schools, firstly has a much loved dinner lady at Rishton Methodist and later has a cleaner at Norden. However, it was no coincidence that both jobs ran parallel with her boy’s time at the aforementioned schools, just so that she could keep a close eye on them and make sure that they were all ok. Michael often spoke of Sandra’s love and protective nature of her son’s by affectionately referring to her as ‘the lioness looking after her cubs’.
Early family holidays were always spent with 2 annual visits to Blackpool, often with her beloved Mum and Dad. The boys recall much fun and laughter within the action packed summer breaks and the later ‘illumination week’. Holidays extended to overseas as the boys got older, where the family enjoyed trips around Europe and to Euro Disney. Sandra became well-travelled, enjoying cruises around the Med, the Fjords on the QE2, and a Transatlantic crossing from New York to Southampton. A trip from Chicago to New Orleans through the cities of music for her Silver Wedding and a trip to New Zealand, to visit her niece, were some of the highlights of many great trips. However, it was always the holidays with family that she enjoyed the most, most recently a holiday to Spain, last year, which was attended by Michael, all of their children, their wives and grandchildren…totalling 15 travelling Pendergast’s.
Sandra enjoyed socialising with friends and family, and loved going out with Michael, and other family members, to the local pubs and clubs to watch live music or just too simply enjoy the company of others. She loved listening to all types of music, whilst whistling along of course, with artists such as Billy Fury and Celine Dion being amongst some of her favourites. Her fun loving, caring, selfless attitude allowed her to easily get on with people and all generations of family and friends often gravitated toward her to enjoy her company on so many occasions. She also enjoyed shopping and loved buying new clothes for herself and her army of Grandchildren. In recent years she enjoyed nothing more than simply looking after her grandchildren and being surrounded by her family, who all loved her tremendously.
Sandra will always be fondly remembered, by all that met her, as one of life’s most beautiful and precious people. Always fun, always caring and always fiercely protective of the ones she loved. She will forever be missed by her family and friends but always held dear for the special person that she was.