Sandra Lou Shaw

Sandra Lou Shaw, age 77, of Savanna, IL, passed away on May 23, 2024 at FHN Hospital, in Freeport, IL. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 29 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Savanna, at 6 p.m. Visitation will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. before the service. Inurnment will take place at Savanna Township Cemetery, on a later date.

Sandy was born April 21, 1947, in Dubuque, IA, the daughter of Louis and JoAnn (Klaeska) Linden. She attended Dubuque schools, graduating from Dubuque Senior High School with the class of 1965. She then married Dennis D. Kelly and together they had two sons. She later married Donald Shaw, on May 30, 1982. They had a daughter together, and would stay by each-other’s side until Don’s passing in 2012. Sandra loved Don dearly, and miraculously, took her final breath exactly 12 years after Don’s passing, even down to the minute! Sandy’s family knows in their hearts that she let go of her time on this earth with intention in that moment. Sandy was always the sentimental type, keeping thank you cards and being mindful of anniversaries and milestones. We believe this was her way of taking care of her family one last time; letting a single day, May 23, be the day of remembrance for her children.

Sandy was a go-getter who didn’t mind getting her hands dirty. She worked numerous jobs, sometimes multiple at a time, to make sure those she loved had everything they needed. Notably, she was a real estate agent, drove a Wonderbread truck, for which she was nicknamed “Wonder Woman”, and served many years as a teacher’s aide for special needs students. She also routinely volunteered her time towards the betterment of her community. She and Don were proud Moose Lodge members; pioneering the Thanksgiving dinners program, and Sandy performed volunteer work for the food pantry and girl scouts. She had an enormous heart, and was always looking for ways to be charitable toward her neighbors. She’d donate to underprivileged families during the Christmas season and was always happy to contribute to bake sales and toy drives.

Delicious recipes, thoughtfully sentimental cards and crafts, and lovely ceramics were a regular part of the Shaw household, as Sandy consistently found new ways to make sure her family knew they were loved. In her free time, she loved being outdoors, especially fishing. She and Don would spend many-an-evening fishing from their boat, and Sandy would even take the boat out herself, for a little relaxing time with her rod, while Don watched the kids for a bit. Memories of fishing with mom will be forever cherished by her kids, as well as memories of stealing mom’s catches! She would often leave lines out at night; then in the morning her sons would steal the catch off the lines and sell them to friends and even strangers for 50 cents. At the time they thought they were getting away with it, but in their adult wisdom, they realized mom surely knew, and was once again just happy to provide for those she loved.

Sandy will be dearly missed by her sons, Jay (Julie) Kelly, of Hemet, CA and Denny O. Kelly, of Savanna; daughter, Cassy (Ethan Bausman) Shaw, of Thomson, IL; step-daughter, Victoria Shaw; step-son, Marcus Shaw; grandchildren, Jacob S., Amelia, Harper, Lila, Presleigh, Paisleigh, Dalton, Katie, Khloe, Jacob H., and Amy, as well as grand-dog, Whinny; and sisters, Diane (Rich) Hansel, LouAnn (Paris) Constantzos, and Vickie Linden. Sandy is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and JoAnn; brother, Charles Linden; and husband, Don.