Sandra Lee Monds (Smith) joined her Lord, Jesus Christ, and her husband Paul, on October 9, 2023. Sandy was born to Helen Kiepe Smith Edwards and Paul Edwin Smith on the family farm in Patton, Missouri on November 24, 1939. Until her eighth grade graduation, she attended a one room schoolhouse with 23 of her cousins. At that time, her family moved to St. Louis where she graduated from Soldan High School in 1957. She met her life-long love shortly after, and married Paul Franklin Monds in 1959. They moved to Terre Haute in 1982 and onto Brazil, IN in 1997. She recently resided in Marshall, Illinois.
Sandy was a Christian woman of integrity, generous with her time and money, and lent a helping hand whenever needed. In the early days, she was on the governing Consistory at St. Mark’s United Church of Christ in Arnold, MO where she also taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible school. In her later years, she was a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Brazil, IN. She also worked at church bereavement dinners and Sunday suppers feeding the less fortunate. Recently, she volunteered at The Helping Hand in West Terre Haute.
Sandy prided herself on being a Wife, Mother, NaNa, and fiercely loyal friend. She excelled at all. She spent her time encouraging and supporting her husband, daughters, grandchildren, family, and friends by helping them pursue their interests and accomplish their dreams. Sandy loved to entertain and welcomed everyone into her home with a smile. She was the “hostess with the mostess”. Although not formally educated, Sandy was a first-class engineer and a renaissance woman. She general contracted the three houses that Paul and she built together. Her ability to organize and manage was a gift from God. Her capabilities were many and she generously used them to help others. She was an excellent seamstress. She knitted, crotched, reupholstered furniture, and rehabbed houses, boats, and campers. She was a woman of action, a doer and loved a project. Process improvement was her by-line.
Sandy was an independent, intelligent, creative, and innovative woman with a quiet, witty sense of humor. She enjoyed playing games especially bridge, dancing and having fun, watching old Western movies, watermelon, and lime snow cones.
Sandy loved her family and friends, who were all her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul Franklin Monds; and brother, Gary Smith; Sister-in-Law, Faith Thompson; and Brother-in-Laws, Bob Thompson, Harry Painter, and Bob Painter. She will be missed by all left behind: two daughters Cindi Monds White (Everett), Colleen Gard (Jay), three grandchildren Garrett Gard (Madison Ayers), Ainslee Boyer (Chase) and Isaac White; a soon to be born great grandbaby, Bo Boyer; two brothers, Rick Edwards (Chris) and Michael Smith (Debbie); two sisters-n-laws Audrey Painter and Debbie Smith; numerous nieces and nephews; grandnieces and nephews and her beloved friends.
Sandra Lee Smith Monds was a true Proverbs 31 woman. Her children and grandchildren, family, and friends will call her blessed, treasure the happy times spent with her, and smile at her memory until we see her again in heaven.
A memorial service will be held October 28, 2023 at the 1st Presbyterian Church, 210 N. Walnut St. Brazil, IN. at 11:00am with Alan Finnan and Gary Scroggins officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the 1st Presbyterian Church, Memorial Garden. Post a note of condolence at www.frenchfuneralhome.com