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Patricia Nevala
RAPID RIVER, MI – Sandra Lee Bourgeois, age 74, of Rapid River, Michigan entered eternal life on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at home surrounded by her husband, son, and daughter after a long and courageous cancer battle.
Sandra was the 11th of 14 children born to Louis and Clarissa (Pringle) Burdick on January 29, 1947, at Saint Mary's Hospital in Marquette, Michigan. She was a 1965 graduate of Marquette Senior High School and a lifelong resident of Marquette until her retirement in 2002.
In 1968 Sandra married Joseph Bourgeois, also of Marquette, while he was stationed at Kincheloe AFB in Kinross, Michigan. Together, Sandy and Joe raised two children, Michael and Michelle. Sandy worked 30 years for the Michigan Secretary of State. One great benefit of her long tenure at the DMV was getting to know just about everyone in Marquette as they came through for their license renewal. She loved this part of her work and could not go out and about in Marquette without striking up a friendly conversation with someone she knew. Upon retirement, she and Joe moved to the place she loved on Sand Bay of Lake Michigan’s Big Bay de Noc., fondly referred to by family as “Sandy’s Bay”.
Sandy loved to travel, and together she and Joe traveled extensively throughout the U.S., as well as trips through Canada to visit their daughter Michelle who lives in North Pole, Alaska. Until her retirement, Sandy had never fired a gun. At 55 years old she took up a U.P. tradition of deer hunting and spent many years in the great outdoors enjoying nature and family bonding. She also became a very successful hunter bagging several bucks; the largest being a nice 9 pointer, which she was very proud of.
Known by family and friends as the “Snack Queen”, she could always be counted on at get-togethers to have an endless supply of snacks to pass around. She was especially revered for these talents at the annual “Beach Blast” hosted by Sandy and Joe each August at their residence on Sand Bay.
Sandra would want to be remembered as someone that was always fair, caring, honest, and always put the interests and needs of all others before herself. She was the cornerstone of her family, which was her pride and joy; she will be greatly missed.
Sandra is survived by Joseph, her husband of 52 years; son, Michael (Mary Anne) Bourgeois; daughter, Michelle (Gregg) Atkins; grandson, Daniel Bourgeois; step-granddaughter, Ashley McNally; sisters, Carol Pazolt, Marilee Burdick, Gayle Cuff, Elizabeth (Jeff) Mehlhaff; brothers, Milton Burdick, James Burdick, Thomas (Carol) Burdick, Roger (Roberta) Burdick; as well as numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. In addition to her parents, Sandra was preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Mahn, Sharron Burdick; brothers, Louis Burdick, Donald Burdick, Robert Burdick.
Friends may call at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services on Saturday, April 17, beginning at 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Masks and social distancing are required and no reception will be held. A 25 person attendance limitation will be observed as directed by the MDHHS. Private family services will be held. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
It was Sandra’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations in her honor to Room at the Inn Shelter in Marquette. https://roomattheinn.org/
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com
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