Leah Darlene Sandri
October 5, 1983 - September 14, 2023
Date and Time
Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Graveside
Willow Lawn Memorial Park
24090 North Highway 45
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60060
Get Directions
Clergy
Rabbi David Oler
Shiva
Sandri Residence
30586 North Gossell Road
Wauconda, Illinois 60084
847.363.7896
Get Directions
Sunday upon return from the cemetery
Memorial Contributions
The Aplastic Anemia
and MDS International Foundation
4330 East West Highway, Suite 230
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
www.aamds.org
or
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, Tennessee 38105
www.stjude.org
or
Save-A-Pet
PO Box 266
Grayslake, Illinois 60030
www.saveapetil.org
and
PLEASE consider donating or registering in the database as a potential life saving bone marrow donor at www.bethematch.org
OBITUARY
Leah Darlene Sandri, nee George-Baskin, age 39, beloved wife of Jason Sandri. Loving mother of Harris and Ambrose Sandri. Cherished daughter in law of Sharon Sandri and niece of Darlene George Craig, Paul M George (Norman Bach), John M George (Judy George), and Carl Baskin (Karin Baskin). Preceded in death by her parents Glen and Lorrie George-Baskin. Caring sister in law of Brian Sandri, and Kevin Sandri (Sarah Sandri). Loved aunt of Kora Reuter (Tyler Reuter and Edelweiss Reuter), Owen Sandri and Ella Sandri. And eternally loved friend to many.
This is incredibly difficult and painful to write, but the strength required to write it still is not one iota of the strength that Leah possessed.
The beloved mother of our children Harris and Ambrose, my beautiful loving wife, the woman who I was lucky enough to have choose me to be her soul mate, the strongest, kindest, most beautiful soul who gifted me our beautiful children and the best years of my life—Leah – passed away Thursday morning, September 14th, at 11 am.
Those of you who knew Leah understand her unbounded spirit and heart. I do not at this moment have the same strength of heart and wit as she to fully and deservedly eulogize her, nor will I ever fully be capable of putting into words the countless ways that we loved her, miss her, and how she made myself and everyone around her a better human being. Inevitably, life will never be the same.
In our wedding vows nearly fifteen years ago, I told Leah that she was my better half. I have learned that she was indeed the half of our marriage that made me a better everything. I also told her that I would always protect her. I failed in that promise, and never anticipated the many things I truly could not protect her from. For the past two years, Leah had been battling Aplastic Anemia, an extremely rare bone marrow autoimmune disease. She had the strength of a legion of warrior goddesses, but even she, the strongest warrior goddess whom I have ever known, was overtaken by this terrible disease. She fought every single moment she was able, through situations, events, pain, and anguish that most people would surrender to at the thought of. She fought until the final second to get home to her boys. She did not give up, and I hope she knows that she owes no apologies and that she failed nothing and no one. Everyone knows and understands the strength that she had, and what ferocity she fought with. In the years to come Harris and Ambrose will fully know and understand as well. She gave them the same heart and strength that she possessed.
Words cannot express how much Leah is loved, and how much she will be missed. The flame of a candle is understood to be momentary, yet even so, Leah’s light was extinguished far too soon. The world is a darker place without her, but the light that she brought to it will never be extinguished while she lives through us.
While words are not enough to express how much Leah is loved and how much she will be missed, your memories and thoughts of Leah are most welcome here. Let us celebrate her life by remembering her, and in doing so help Harris and Ambrose understand the many facets of this beautiful soul, who was so proud to be their mother.
Graveside service Sunday, 11 AM Willow Lawn Cemetery, 24090 North Highway 45, Vernon Hills, IL 60060. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation www.aamds.org, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, Save-A-Pet, www.saveapetil.org and PLEASE consider donating or registering in the database as a potential life saving bone marrow donor at www.bethematch.org. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Buffalo Grove Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com