Sandra Christine Lennon

Sandy Lennon passed away peacefully in Casa Grande, Arizona, on Monday, February 27, 2023. She was 73 years old.

Sandy spent her formative years in Adelaide, South Australia. If she wasn’t hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania or other trails in New Zealand, she was studying nursing. The desire to devote her life to helping others was even larger than her love for the outdoors. Family, friends, colleagues, and patients confirmed that Sandy’s passion for nursing inspired her to deliver the gold standard of care. This even included an adrenaline-pumping Formula One Racetrack event. As the Nursing Director of Internal Medicine at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, her team was responsible for the on-site medical team for the Formula One Race in Adelaide. Sandy loved living in the fast lane.

She learned early in life to keep a camera nearby. Believing her odyssey on this planet was too exciting to let it slip by, she captured stories with her camera – her first was a Kodak Brownie. Over the years, she refined her skills and took vibrant photos of wild animals on an African safari, the sun slipping behind the Acropolis of Athens, or even a flower on a hotel balcony in Tuscany.

After devoting 25 years to nursing, the adventurous Sandy traded ‘down under’ for Fort Smith, Arkansas. This life-altering move opened doors more career doors. When you excel like Sandy, it’s no surprise when opportunities abound. Health care providers in Arizona got wind of her talents; they wanted Sandy to pull up roots and become their desert flower. They pulled the right heart strings. After moving to Casa Grande, Sandy worked in leadership roles in long term care, behavioral health, ICU, Emergency, and cancer care.

In 2016, Sandy retired – after 50 years of nursing; she was ecstatic that she had accomplished her goal. She loved retirement and next, it was time to travel. However, plans were upended, and hearts were broken when she passed suddenly in 2023.

Sandy was preceded in death by her loving parents Heather and John Desmond Lennon. She is survived by her partner, Rona Curphy, and two sisters Suzanne (Susie) Craig from Melbourne, and Patricia (Trish) Larkin from Sydney.

Sandy was the adoring aunt to several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews: Julian and Belinda Shimada (Arlo Shimada and Patrick Shimada); Mariko Shimada (Aoki Shimada); and Jonathon Larkin and Clare Maclean Larkin (Olive Larkin); and Clare Larkin and Harley Goodacre (Matilda (Tilly) Goodacre.)

She had many friends and was a loving Godmother to Kate O’Halloran and Harlow Bell.

All are cordially invited to celebrate Sandy’s extraordinary life on Sunday March 19th 4pm -7pm at A Latte Vino, 958A E. Rodeo Rd suite 1, Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Please express your thoughts or share your favorite Sandy memory by leaving a note above in the Tribute Book.

In Lieu of Flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of the Sun Corridor, P.O. Box 10291 Casa Grande AZ 85130