Obituary of Sandra Lea Wright
Sandra Lea Wright was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, and grew up in Burnaby. She was the second daughter of Alan and Patricia Wright, both of whom were teachers.
Sandra showed brilliance as an undergraduate student at Simon Fraser University. She went on to complete her Masters there after encouragement from her good friend Brenda Salter and faculty member Dr. Charles Crawford. Her areas of interest were cognition, ischemia, and (most importantly, by far) animal behavior. From there, Sandra completed her PhD at Dalhousie. She worked and lived in five provinces before finding her home in western Newfoundland as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, in 2002.
Sandra was selfless and caring - at work and in life. After completing her PhD, Sandra helped care for her mother as she faced Parkinson's disease. Sandra taught aerobics and worked at a mental health hotline as a graduate student. Helping others came naturally to her, and this was also true in her career. At Grenfell, Sandra was a true colleague. She served in roles that needed someone not seeking credit or glory, but instead wishing to serve the community.
Sandra took particular pleasure in supervising student research - especially in her lab, where she trained countless students over the years. She was also a serious scholar. Just last year Sandra edited a major first-year textbook in psychology.
Sandra did not talk much about any of that, though.
Sandra met her husband Matthew at Grenfell, and with him lived a full life. Some favorite memories include frequent trips to the United Kingdom, to Arizona, and back to British Columbia, as well as time at the cabin. Sandra revelled in the company of people who were different from her, and from whom she learned new things. She had a big, beautiful laugh and an even bigger heart. Sandra was recognized by many as the woman who walked her big black dog around the Glynmill Inn pond every morning, and she loved being recognized in this way.
Sandra faced cancer with the same quiet strength that characterized her career and her life. She fought until it became clear that her time was short. Sandra accepted this with her typical grace and humility. She left us far too soon.
Sandra will be missed by many whose lives she touched - thousands of students, many colleagues, family, and friends. She leaves behind her husband Matthew Janes. Sandra also leaves behind her nephew Nicholas, her parents-in-law Derek and Heidi Janes, and family in British Columbia. Sandra was predeceased by her sister Susan, who passed away only a few months ago, as well as by her dog Moose, who passed away shortly after Sandra completed treatments in St. John's. Sandra was predeceased by her parents, whom she remembered every year at Grenfell through the Alan and Patricia Wright Travel Bursary.
Sandra wanted to ensure that the health care professionals who looked after her were thanked - not just the excellent doctors, but just as importantly the nursing and support staff on the fifth floor, chemo floor, and especially palliative care at Western Memorial. They treated Sandra with compassion, professionalism, and kindness. In keeping with Sandra's wishes, a donation in her name can be made to the NL West SPCA or the Western Memorial Regional Hospital Foundation.
