In Loving Memory of Rebecca Sanders
Ms. Rebecca Gail Sanders, 51, passed from this life on December 24, 2018; after a long and difficult struggle with MS, she is now free and at ease.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 19, 1967 to Benjamin Owen Sanders and Linda Marie Sans Souci, Rebecca grew up in the St. Louis area, where she attended St. Charles High School, St. Louis Community College, and the Kaleidoscope School of Massage Therapy. She met her life partner of 18 years, Deana Therese Patrick, in St. Louis, and they have been living in Colorado Springs, CO for the past seven years.
Rebecca was, to the great majority of people who knew her, a profound influence – kind, strong, wise, joyful, playful, and nurturing. She had a passionate advocacy for justice and peace. She believed strongly in living a healthful life in rhythm with nature, eating whole, natural foods. She also would use the offerings of the earth to heal the body. She passed that interest on to those around her, too, wanting to give the gift of wellness to the people she cared about.
Rebecca loved music and going to concerts. She was a drummer in her high school marching band and she listened to all kinds of music, jazz, funk, folk, reggae and rock. She had perfect pitch, and knew immediately when someone was off key. Each morning she would get her daughters up for school playing music like The Meters, Bob Marley or the Indigo Girls, slowly turning up the volume to help them to get moving.
In the words of her friends and family, Rebecca was a ‘Teacher of so many things. Lover of life and this earth’, ‘an ethereal light in a dark world’, ‘Your mom was such a strong, bad ass, caring woman. A wonderful person’, ‘one of the most beautiful souls (we) have ever met.’, ‘one of the dearest, truest, kindest souls I have been lucky enough to ever meet’, ‘Her wisdom and knowledge will forever have a positive influence. We will forever hold her in our hearts’. Her friends and family will truly miss her.
She made sure to teach her daughters what she knew about living an authentic life full of gladness and love – how to rely on themselves and find their inner strength; to care for all living beings; to get dirt on their clothes; to laugh as often and as loudly as they could, and to dance barefoot in the rain. We know she’s dancing again!
Rebecca is survived by her life partner, Deana Therese Patrick; her daughters, Katharine Alissa Smith (Boedeker) and Jessica Gail Boedeker; her mother, Linda Marie Sans Souci; her father, Benjamin Owen Sanders; her sister, Jennifer Leigh Speciale; and her nephew and niece, James Anthony Speciale and Kiriana Christine Speciale.
There will be a celebration of Rebecca’s life in Colorado Springs on January 12th from 11:30 – 12:30 at Casa Verde Commons, 1355 Lindenwood Grove, 80907. Light lunch will be served and dress is casual.
Another celebration will be held in St. Louis on Jan 26th at 10:00 am at Missouri Buddhist Meditation Center, 7120 North Hanley Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042 (http://www.mbmcusa.org/index.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Rebecca’s name to Honor the Earth, www.honorearth.org.
To find the link to this tribute on Return to Nature’s Facebook page, click here.