Obituary of Gertrude R. Sandquist

Gertrude R. "Trudy" Sandquist, 87, of the Busti-Stillwater Rd., Jamestown, NY, passed away peacefully in the night, at 12:05 a.m. Friday, April 6, 2018, in her home following a twenty year battle with Parkinson's Disease. A lifelong area resident, she was born June 27, 1930 in the Town of Busti, a daughter of the late William C. and Katherine I. Vanord Francisco. Trudy was a 1948 graduate of Jamestown High School and graduated in 1951 from the Millard Fillmore Hospital School of Nursing, Buffalo, NY. She began her nursing career working at the former Jamestown General Hospital in the Surgical Unit. She was also a nurse for Visiting Nurse Association and was a civilian nurse at the Camp Pickett Army National Guard Base in VA. She also worked as an industrial nurse at the former Proto Tool Company and for over 35 years worked with her husband in the family business, Sandquist Signs. She was a member of the Busti Church of God, the Busti Fire Department Auxiliary, serving as president, vice president and a director and was also a member of the Parkinson's Support Group. Trudy loved gardening, knitting, and taking long walks. Her joy of life showed in her ready smile, playful spirit, and willingness to try new things. Always looking to care for others, Trudy applied her nursing skills to help many in the community, her friends and relatives. After a lifetime as a caregiver, the Parkinson's and debilitating arthritis left her needing full time care and unable to do the things she enjoyed most in life. Despite her many aliments, she never complained and kept a positive outlook on life. Surviving are her husband of 65 years, Ralph E. Sandquist, whom she married April 18, 1953, a daughter; Sharon S. Clark of Webster, NY, a son; Clark E. Sandquist of Sherwood, OR, four grandchildren; Michael Clark of Portland, OR, Collin Clark of Webster, NY, Justin Sandquist of Baltimore, MD, Kelsey Sandquist of Santa Rosa, CA. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a brother; Alfred W. "Bud" Francisco and a sister; Beatrice A. Young. The funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Roy E. Ferguson, pastor of the Busti Church of God and Rev. Theresa Stevens will officiate. Burial will be in the Busti Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Busti Fire Department, 886 Mill Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Busti Church of God, 996 Forest Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701.