Sandy G. Boon

Sandy Boon died Monday, July 14, 2008. Supported by her strong faith throughout her life and particularly during her long struggle with cancer, she left this world at peace and unafraid, sure of where she was going. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Monday July 21, 2008 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 555 Delaware in Benton Harbor with Fr. William J. Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Sunday July 20, 2008 with prayers recited at 5:30 P.M. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers memorials donations may be made to Hospice at Home. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Sandy was a devoted friend with an irreverent sense of humor who will be remembered by her friends as a trusted confidant but also someone who loved a good joke. A wonderful mom and grama and enjoyed the sound of kids at play. Her children will remember her as someone always available, whose counsel was often sought and whose advice was always sound. A life-long resident of Benton Harbor, Sandy was born Sandra G. DeWolff on July 6, 1940. Following graduation from Benton Harbor High School, she married her high school sweetheart David L. Boon at Chincoteague (VA) Naval Base on June 14, 1958 and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. In 1960, Sandy went to work for Whirlpool Corporation. She stayed with the company for 28 years, retiring in 1988 as director of marketing management development. She was an honored member of “the bootstrap buddies,” an informal group of women who, by dint of hard work, pulled themselves up through the ranks to positions in management at Whirlpool at a time when few women held such positions. Sandy attended Central Michigan University and also completed a seven year Bible Study Fellowship. She volunteered at St. John and St. Bernard Parish and with Birthright. A private person, she loved music, reading and gardening. The home she and her husband Dave created in Benton Harbor is a sanctuary for many species of birds and other area wild life. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, John and Angeline (Gazer) DeWolff, her brother Walter and sister Florence Brant. Besides her husband David, Sandy is survived by two sons: Brent (Lynn) Boon of Crestwood, KY and Jarrett (Brooke) Boon of Phoenix, AZ; and one daughter, Heather (Jim) Pitcher of Franklin, MI; eight grandchildren and her sister Dot D’Addona of Ann Arbor, MI.