Sandra D Westover

Sandra Dee Maletta Westover crossed over on July 22 but not before she spent 82 years living her best life with family, friends and the love of her life, Joe Westover. She was a woman of grit, profound love, incomparable wit and sense of humor, unique style, and adventure.

Born December 30, 1939, in Taylor Washington to Winifred Foster and Sandy Maletta, she was the baby of the family of five children. Her genetic background made her almost 50% English and 50% Italian as her parents and grandparents were born in the UK and Italy.

When Sandra turned six the family moved to Renton Washington where she spent her school years at Sartori Elementary and Renton High. The family home on Meadow Street was just a hop-skip-and-a-jump to downtown Renton, the Cedar River and the neighborhood Liberty Park. It was these years growing up in Renton that connected her to lifetime friends who in turn introduced her to Joe in the 1970’s.

Prior to meeting Joe, Sandra married Doyle Ford from Renton. Doyle drove a bull dozer and helped in the construction of the circular auto ramps in the Sea-Tac. They lived not far from her parents’ home and were known for their wine making in the basement and always being the“life of the party.” One Thanksgiving they showed up at her sister Aldine’s house with a live turkey causing a great commotion as its feet clattered on a slate entry but making a lasting memory for her family members.

After her divorce from Doyle she married her soul-mate Joe in the backyard of her sister Maxine’s house in August of 1978. Her maid-of-honor was Pat Zebell, her long time Renton friend. Sandra and Joe worked hard to build three successful businesses in Puyallup. Westover’s Meat Market, Two Js Tavern and The Chalet. They loved traveling in the summer months in their RV and fishing from their pontoon boat as they spent time with friends and members of the family.

Her adventurous soul took her Europe in 1994 with her sister Aldine and nieces to visit the birth sites of her parents in Wales, UK and Orsara, Italy. Her main goal in Italy was to get pinched in the butt by an Italian man. Unbeknownst to her traveling group she brought $5000.00 in cash with her and no credit cards. One day the cash was missing. Thankfully it was found tucked away in a travel bag she had but not before hours were spent backtracking and looking for it.

Sandra loved clothes, shoes, perfect makeup and hair, fun eye glasses, cooking, Coors beer, the Rolling Stones, entertaining, Dachshunds, elephants, and giving one an earful if you messed up.

In 2000 Sandra and Joe moved to Sun City West, AZ. Joe passed away in 2016 and in 2018 Sandra moved back to Washington to be near her extended family. By 2020 her care needs increased and she lived her final days at Fieldstone assisted living in Silverdale.

Sandra is survived by nieces and nephews Pamela Kyle, Joseph Habenicht, Randy Simonson, Kimberly Brown, Patrick O’ Hara, Timothy Ramsey, Shannon Carlson, Gerry Maletta, Lisa Easton, and Kelly Bonomi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Aldine Habenicht, Maxine O’Hara, Nadine Ramsey, brother Sandy, niece Peggy Sue Ramsey, nephew Jeffrey Habenicht, and great-nephew Scott Stamnes.

Sandra had a quick and sometimes cutting wit that she inherited from her mom. At Sandra’s request she was cremated because she “likes to be hot.”

Sandra will be laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery with her beloved Joe and favorite pup, Beezley, in a private military event to honor Joe’s service during the Vietnam war.

Until then, if you’d like to remember Sandra you can crank up “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Stones, crack a cold Coors and make a toast. If you can’t, she requested donations be made to Puyallup Animal Rescue, Puyallup Animal Rescue PO BOX 814 Puyallup, WA 98371.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.