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Light a Candle
Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend Sandy DiSalvo left us on January 23rd. After a long life surrounded by loving family and community, Sandy passed with her daughter Carol by her side. Sandy was a first generation Italian-American, whose parents came to Sunnyvale CA by way of Ellis Island in the 20’s. Her life changed quickly with the sudden tragic death of her beloved father when she was 9 years old. Sandy joined the whole family in working jobs to help the family make ends meet- at Kirkish's and Sprouts Reitz, Shuckl's cannery as a mail girl, or her favorite one to recall- working for Sejo’s bakery (Sandy had a sweet tooth, and everyone in the family knew all the hiding places for her chocolates and candies). Sandy later married her love Vincent DiSalvo, who left us in 1997. They both made a wonderful home on McClellan Road– a ranch house on an orchard, which they filled with loud gatherings, good food, and warmth. Here they raised their three daughters and always kept an open door for their 7 grandchildren as well as her 9 great grandchildren who more recently, filled the house on Christmas Eve nights with screams and giggles. Sandy enjoyed tending to her impressive rose and orchid garden, sporting her sparkly bling, done up hair and nails, dishing out sassy comments, rooting for the San Francisco Giants, and above all, she enjoyed her family. She was always a short drive away down the street, or phone call away for her grandchildren, children and family any time of the day or night, and cared deeply about them. Whether it was picking up one of the grandkids from school, or being an ear to lend or place to stay, she was there. In turn her family was there for her, all of us have been there at some time to take her to the doctor, put up her Christmas lights, plant her tomatoes, pick up her groceries, style her hair-you name it. You see, Sandy ran her husband’s business, and with her brain being very sharp to the end, she continued to run her home like an estate (with the tireless help of her daughters). Some famous Sandy-isms include “It will all come out in the wash”, “Make hay while the sun shines” and her go to “Anywhooo”. The legacy she leaves behind, is a loving family filled with stories and memories that will live on in each of us. Sandy is survived by her daughters Linda, Diane and Carol as well as her grandchildren Joseph, Sean, Lindsay, Gina, Andrea, Richard, and Danielle, and younger brother Manuel Danna and sister-in-law Marie Danna and several nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her brother Nick Danna. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Vince on Wednesday the 27th at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. Due to Covid restrictions there will be no service. In lieu of flowers donations will be appreciated to the American Heart Association ( https://www.heart.org) or Hospice Foundation of America (https://hospicefoundation.org/Donate).
