After a brave battle with a long illness, Sandra MacKinnon Cosenza 70, of Northford, entered into the arms of the Lord on May 26, 2012 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in New Haven on October 29, 1941 to the late Lloyd Douglas and Helene Poperaden MacKinnon. She was the beloved wife of Henry Charles Cosenza and the mother to Robyn Helene (fiancé Jan Willem Koster) and Jennifer Cosenza Lamb (Kevin). She was also “Nana†to two dearly-loved grandchildren Ian Henry and Jaimeson Elise Lamb. She was the sister to Lloyd John MacKinnon Sr. (Jean) of West Haven and Aunt Sandy to Lloyd John MacKinnon Jr. (Holly) of Escalon CA and Tara MacKinnon of New Haven. Sandra “Sandy†graduated West Haven High School in 1959 and earned an Associate Degree from Quinnipiac University. Sandy began her career at Yale New Haven Hospital and later went to work for Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) where she spent 34 years and met life-long friends. But the role she cherished the most was Nana. She was the ideal grandmother and spent long hours with her grandchildren and her devotion to them was unwavering. Sandy was an avid cook she loved to read and to travel and was the self proclaimed greatest Johnny Mathis fan ever.
Her funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, Thursday morning at 11:00. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Therese Church, North Haven at 11:30 am. Entombment will follow in the All Saints Mausoleum. The visiting hours will be Wednesday (TODAY) from 4 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Connecticut Hospice Inc., 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405 or the Hospital of St. Raphael Foundation, 1450 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06511.
Robyn, Henry and Jennifer,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this sad time in your life! Sandy was a wonderful woman who was always bigger than life when I was around her! I will always cherish the times I have spent with your family!
Mr.”C”,Robyn and Jen- Brian and I are so sorry for your loss. What a great lady she was. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Robyn- All I keep thinking is that Mrs. “C” had the patience of a saint to put up with our shenanigans for so many years. Thinking of her will always make me smile! Love you guys
Dianne
Robyn – so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom. She’ll be with you in spirit and memory along the way…
Deepest sympathy to the Cosenza family. Sandy will always be in our prayers.
Robyn,
We are so very sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jen, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.
Henry, Robyn Jennifer,
So Sorry to hear about your loss.
Worked with Sandy at ACES and she will be remembered as a wonderful person. I enjoyed working with her and as well as all the good freinds we made at Aces. She will be greatly miss.
Jennifer, Robyn and Henry, our hearts and prayers are with you and with all who Sandy touched throughout her life. May she rest in peace and may all your lives be better for knowing her.
Henry, Robyn, Jennifer.
We think about all the times we shared and our hearts are broken. We can’t imagine the grief you are dealing with. Sandy was a great mother, wife, grandmother, and friend.
We share in your loss and sorrow at the loss of our most dear, loyal, lifelong
friend. There will forever be an empty space in our hearts for Sandy my BFF
until we meet again.
Henry, Robyn & Jennifer – Frank and I are deeply saddened with Sandy’s passing. She was a very special person who gave so much joy to people and expected nothing in return. I cherish the times that we spent the holidays together cooking for those less fortunate at St. Donato’s. Sandy made everyone who walked through those doors feel special. Her smile was enough to light up the room especially when you would get her going talking about Johnny Mathis! She will be terribly missed.
Jen, so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Cherish your memories and hold them dear. Take care.
Jenny Contois
Mom you will be missed terribly. I love you and am grateful for the time we had.
So very sorry to hear of Sandy’s passing. Pete and Louie loved her and you, Henry. God bless you and your family and help you through this difficult time.
I like to think she is with Louie and Pete with Our Lord , and spreading laughter in heaven.
Among all Sandy’s many gifts was her friendship. Sandy knew how to be a good and loyal friend, a gift , I will always be greatful she shared with me over the years we were together at Aces. God bless you Sandy. May you be at peace ,love Joe.
As classmates (WHHS 1959) I had the privilege of knowing Sandy as a real “Buddy”. Our fraternity, Alpha Iota Epsilon (AIE), and her sorority, Alpha Nu Gamma, (ANG) were quite close. We spent many a pleasant evening, after our meetings on Monday nights, in each others company. Often, the AIE guys and the ANG girls went to dances and parties together. I have nothing but the warmest memories of the two group’s relationships.
At each of the class reunions that I attended, I would try to spend a few minutes with Sandy, reminiscing on our high school days. Even though we had moved away from West Haven, I always felt that the friendships from those days would endure.
I was saddened to hear of her passing, especially since I was not able to attend our 50th reunion. I would have enjoyed spending a few minutes with her. All too often, we miss out on the chance to let someone know that they have meant a lot to us.
My wife, Masako, is from Yokohama, Japan. In the Japanese language, the word “Sayonara” does not mean “goodbye”. Rather it means “I do not wish for us to part, but if it must be so.”
To Sandy, “Sayonara”, from your Brothers of AIE. Ed Lawson
Henry and Family, We were so sadden to hear of Sandy’s passing. We can only hope you can find some peace that she is no longer in pain and finally at peace. Please know your in our thoughts.