Schipper, Sandra Sue (nee Clifford)

Sandra Sue Schipper (neé: Clifford), born September 12th, 1954, passed away mercifully fast on Thursday January 11th, 2024 with her 4 children, Kristin (Jeff), Michael, Jessica (Colin) and Rebecca (Holly) by her side, after an 11 month long fight with stage 4 cancer.
Sandra was predeceased by her father, Gordon, and brother, Cameron, and leaves behind her mother Lois, sisters Janice and Margaret, brother Robert, her children, and her beloved granddaughters Charlotte and Bodhi.
Whether she truly believed that roosters were “such great examples of pride and strength” or she simply said one time 30 years ago “hmm that chicken statue is kind of cute,” she definitely grew to love them as she amassed hundreds and hundreds of chicken items throughout her life. Think: statues, plates, bowls and cups, pillows, shirts, salt and pepper shakers, clocks, table cloths, lamps, and artwork. But never, unfortunately, a real live chicken.
Her supposed love of chickens was only rivaled by her actual love of wine. She is surely drinking a large glass of red in Heaven now. Well, she has two hands, so likely two glasses.
Sandra was always game for a themed party with costumes, even up until her recent, and last, birthday: a Birdday party with her as an ornithologist. She and her family celebrated birthdays with themes like: circus, 1950’s diner, Casino Royale, country Western, Harry Potter, fishing, skiing, the roaring 20s, wine tasting, brewery tour, lobster boil, and even a Dateline mystery (she was the murder suspect).
She was happiest when cheering on her daughter’s ringette team, watching a school performance, crafting or playing games with her grandchildren, gardening, playing piano, camping or hiking with her kids, sunning and funning in Myrtle Beach with her and her sister’s families, and cooking for her loved ones. Her Caesar salad recipe is nothing short of legendary.
One of the things she enjoyed most was driving a school bus, which she did for 20 years in Burlington, Oakville, Brantford and Paris. She touched the lives of so many children throughout the years and will be dearly missed by her students and their families.
Sandra was so much more than her cancer but the strength and determination she exhibited while undergoing immunotherapy, whole brain radiation, chemotherapy, spine radiation, surgery to insert a titanium cage around her vertebrate and finally a clinical trial oncology drug is the truest example of love and devotion to family there has ever been. She fought to stay in this world for her family, and did not complain once. She was ready for her final walk to her Forever Home, yet did not want to have to make it so soon. However, she was confident in the knowledge that she would not be making it alone- she knew beyond any doubt that Jesus would be by her side, indeed, holding her in his all powerful arms.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Sandra’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society which provided her first open hand of support on her cancer journey or to Juravinski Cancer Center where she had countless appointments and treatments and spent a month recovering from surgery with the help of loving, caring nurses.
A celebration of Sandra’s life will be held at The Followers of Christ Church located at JB Costain Community Center, 16 Morrell St, Brantford, ON N3T 4J2, on Sunday, January 21st from 2-4pm.