Vera Sands
Funeral services for Vera Sands will be at 1 p.m. Monday, April 8, at the First United Methodist Church, Urbana. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Renner-Wikoff Chapel & Crematory, 1900 S. Philo Road, Urbana. Burial will take place at the G.A.R. Cemetery in Homer.
Vera was born Dec. 9, 1917, on a farm in Xenia Township, Clay County, to Hoda Smith and Maude L. Ehlers Smith.
She completed three years of high school available in Xenia, graduating from Flora high school. She later received a diploma from Lake View College of Commerce in Alton.
She married Andrew Monroe Sands of Salem in 1941. They had two children, Carolyn M. Sands and Phillip M. Sands, both of Champaign. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Andrew Monroe Sands; and her brother, William Harry Smith.
After the war, the family moved to Urbana from southern Illinois. Vera worked part-time as a secretary at the University of Illinois for a number of years. After her son was in school, she worked full-time at the University for another 27 years until her retirement. She always had great love and respect for the UI and attended many musical events and games.
Vera loved music and was an excellent pianist. As a young woman she earned money during the Depression by giving music lessons, playing for ballet lessons, weddings and funerals. She also played the clarinet in local bands and orchestras. In her later years she enjoyed playing weekly for the sing-a-long at Hayes Center before the weekly senior potluck.
Vera enjoyed participating in the Methodist Women's Groups both in Urbana and in Homer. She was also active in the Homer Historical Society and in the Homemakers Extension's Association. She enjoyed life and always kept active with her family and many friends.
She liked to go and traveled as much as she could: family car trips, many bus trips after her husband died, and a memorable trip to Europe with her daughter, Carolyn. She took notes when she traveled, which make for interesting reading.
Most importantly, she was a loving wife and mother who loved and cared for her family and for others.
Vera was good, kind, wonderful and funny. Family was her center and she was theirs. She always did what she could to support her husband, children, grandchildren and those with whom she came in contact. In addition to Carolyn and Phillip, she had two grandsons, Chad Sands (Christi) of LeRoy (great granddaughters Megan and Gracie) and Travis Sands (Julie) of Seattle, Wash., (great grandson Phoenix and great granddaughter Anya). Her love, humor, and unfailing acceptance and support will be missed by us all.
Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.
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