Sandra Gail "Sandy" Atwell-Tennyson
Sandra Gail "Sandy" Atwell-Tennyson, 77, Bedford
It is with broken hearts that our family announces the passing of our wonderful mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend, Sandy Atwell-Tennyson on August 30, 2024, in Halifax.
Sandy was born in Wolfville in 1946 and spent her childhood in Melanson and Wolfville. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Brian Tennyson; her children, Jennifer Faulkner, (Peter Robichaud) and Matthew Faulkner (Audrey Lehouillier); her stepchildren, Lindsay Tennyson and Chris Tennyson (Buffy Lopez); and her grandchildren, Massimo, Zoe, and Breeanna. She is also survived by her sisters, Joyce Nowlan and Theresa Edwards along with many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Colin and Doris (Marion) Atwell and sisters, Josephine Colson, Geneva Long, Colleen Hovell, June Morine and Sharron Walsh; brothers-in-law, Jack Colson, Karl Nowlan, Ernie Morine, and Doug Walsh; and her niece, Catherine Colson and nephew, Michael Hovell.
Sandy lived her life with curiosity, elegance, enthusiasm, generosity, and a quirky sense of humour. She was small in stature but mighty in spirit and she left an impression on everyone she met. She loved to cook and entertain and even a simple lunch was a memorable experience.
She made a tremendous contribution to fundraising for the various churches she attended over the years, notably the annual Christmas pudding project in Bridgewater and the popular soup luncheons in Mahone Bay.
Sandy’s passion for gardening transformed many barren plots into beautiful, lush, and colourful havens that neighbours and passersby frequently paused to admire. She and Brian loved to travel and over the years they went to the United Kingdom several times as well as France, Italy, British Columbia, the Yukon and throughout the United States. One year she travelled to Kenya with her sisters, Joyce and Geneva, to visit her niece, Michelle. Sandy always made many cherished friends along the way.
Sandy was a graduate of Acadia University and spent her career there working first at the library and later in the School of Business. She was loved by many students as she warmly helped them adjust to campus life and generously edited and typed their course papers.
Most of all, Sandy loved her family, both immediate and extended, with a fierceness and commitment that will live on in all of our hearts.
Everyone who loved Sandy is invited to attend a service to celebrate her life on Friday, September 6th at 3 p.m., with livestream, in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville.
Donations may be made in Sandy’s memory to Souls Harbour Rescue Mission where she had been a volunteer, to the Canadian Cancer Society, or to the charity of your choice.
Special thanks to the staff of the Thoracic and Palliative units at the Victoria General Hospital for their incredible care of Sandy in the last weeks of her life, cushioning the blow of a very difficult time for our family. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.