Obituary: Sanger, Margaret

SANGER,
Margaret

Our Mom passed
away peacefully Saturday, October 13th, 2012.

She was delivered into the arms of the Lord, as one of her daughters held her hand and another lay sleeping beside her.

Through the Lord’s grace, Mom moved gently from our care into his for all eternity.

Mom was born to Roy and Lillian VanTyle in tiny Sebeka Minnesota on June 20th, 1935.

At a very early age, circumstance brought her to live with close relatives and allowed her to accept that family comes in all forms.

A blind date brought our mother and father, Rex together; they were married in the spring of 1956 and have been together ever since.

Through fifty six years, six children, twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Mom managed it all and did so with style and grace.

Mom worked her entire adult life not because she wanted to, but because she knew it was what needed to be done.

Night shifts at a nursing home, clipping coupons, managing hand-me-downs and cooking what must have seemed like hundreds of thousands of meals: through it all she was there for her family.

Not a lot of extra money, but we wanted for nothing, in part because of Mom’s resolve.

A million words would not be enough to describe her true greatness as it was born of her ability to give herself to others selflessly and without expectation for a returned kindness.

Once her family was raised and work was behind her, Mom found great joy in travel, in making new friends and in seeing new places.

She and Dad hit all four corners of the United States and incredibly “only one damned deer along the way!”

From Alaska to Prince Edward Island, The Oregon Coast, California, Arizona, Colorado, New York and all points in-between, she was especially fond of the Bok Tower in Florida and listening to the Carillion Bells ring out over the citrus grove.

Family and friends, to this day, still count as prized possessions the macramĂŠ folding chairs she crafted during her travels.

Mom is survived by her husband Rex, her Aunt Francie, her brother Robin and wife Joy, her daughters Patty Hanna and her husband Bob, Terrie Sanger, Janet Khan and Beth Sanger as well as her sons Steve Sanger, Tim Sanger and his wife Tina - her grandchildren Elysia and her husband Whitman, Shawn and his wife Heather, Kodi and her husband Ben, Jade and Bronson, Andrea and her husband Adam, Alex and his wife Kim, Colten and Peyten, Justin, Drew and Luke - her great-grandchildren Liam, Makenna, Makayla, Nautika, Kenzie and Cambry.

A very special thank you must be made to Patty and Bob Hanna for their tireless care of both our Mother and Father through Mom’s extended illness.

Untold time and attention was their gift to two very special people and it has not gone unnoticed by anyone who was watching.

As Mom did her entire life, you’ve taught the rest of us a valuable lesson through your actions.

You provided unwavering care and did so without the expectation of a thank you or of a reward.

Special thanks also to Mom’s caregivers Mariah, Shawna and Shelley, we all appreciate greatly your help through a very difficult process.

Mom, may the angels take you into their arms and by our deeds may we make you proud.

A rosary will be held Friday, October 19th, 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home - 508 Government Way, Spokane WA.

A funeral mass will be held Saturday, October 20th 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 3914 N. Lidgerwood, with burial to follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

Following the services, a celebration of Mom’s life will be held at 4:00 p.m. at The Good Samaritan Community Center, E. 17121 8th Ave., in Greenacres, WA.