Sandra Grace

passed away on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 in Seattle, Washington at Harborview Medical Center, surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was born on October 27, 1961 in Truckee, California and was 48 years of age. Sandra graduated from Napa High School in Napa Valley, CA. and prior to this had attend the Immaculate Conception High School in Seattle. Sandra married Terry Kitchen of Paradise, California and they had two sons. In her career after moving to Chico, Sandra taught developmentally disabled adults in a job training program. She also worked for many years at the Town & Country Market on Bainbridge.Sandra was very devoted to her family and will be remembered for her upbeat humor and her zest in preparing all of the holiday dinners for the extended family. She also dedicated several years of her life to caring for her mother before she passed away in 2002.Her life was full of great experiences and travel. She grew up skiing on the back of her Dad's skis at Lake Tahoe and flying in his small airplane. At the age of 8, her parents divorced, she then lived with her older sister, Linda ( Baker), and Allan Persyn. In1995, Sandra brought her boys back to Bainbridge Island to be with her extended family and met her long-time partner Sam Walker who introduced her to the joys of Boating in Puget Sound, Fishing and hot rods. Their life together was interspersed with trips to Hawaii, Taladega Car Races, and remodeling the family home. Sandra was well loved and will be sadly missed. She is survived by her sons; Joel and Doug Kitchen of Bainbridge Island, long-time partner Sam Walker of Bainbridge Island, sister Linda Baker of Bainbridge Island, Brother In-law Allan Persyn of Shoreline, WA, nieces and nephews; Lalania Olsby and Ben and Seth Persyn of Seattle, WA. and grandmother Marie Persyn of Concord, CA. She also leaves behind five grandnephews and nieces. Sandras was preceded in death by her father Henry Stephan and Doris Smith (Norton).Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Memorial Mass on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM at St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Bainbridge Island, Washington. A reception celebration will follow at Faye Bainbridge State Park Memorial contributions can be made to a dream that Sandra held in helping women who were victims of domestic violence. Donations can be made to : YWCA ALIVE Shelter, P.O. Box 559, Bremerton, WA 98337.