Sandra
Geer Willey, 90, of Essex Junction, Vt., passed away surrounded by
loving family at the McClure Miller Respite House on August 12, 2025.
Sandy
was born to Northrup and Elizabeth (Duffield) Geer in Hempstead,
N.Y., on January 31, 1935. They were kind and loving parents who
molded Sandy into the loving woman she grew up to be for so many.
Sandy grew up in Hempstead and later East Williston, N.Y., with her
parents and siblings, John and Debbie. Their house was a loving and
welcoming home, often with family or friends who were in need of a
home or a helping hand. Sandy emulated this with her home on the
Willey Farm, as many were welcomed during times of need.
Sandy
graduated from Roslyn High School before majoring in English at the
University of Vermont. After many years of doing the most important
job there is, being a full-time mother, Sandy became the assistant
librarian at Essex Junction High School for 10 years, from 1979 to
1989. She was loved by the students and staff, and she greatly
enjoyed her time there.
Sandy
met her loving husband, Robert, in 1952 while attending UVM. He was a
Sigma Nu fraternity member and she a Tri Delta sorority member. They
met in the cafeteria, and it was love at first sight.
Sandy
and Bob were married for 70 years and lived a long and happy life
together on the Willey Farm in Essex Junction, rearing their four
children: Kimberly Willey (deceased), Giles Willey, Laura Valley
(Tom) and Kate Mitchell (Greg [deceased]). In 1974, their daughter
Kim died, and this tragedy was life-changing for the whole Willey
family. With Bob and Sandy’s guidance, the family survived, and
Kim’s legacy of love and family unity lives on in all of us.
Being
a grandmother was one of Sandy’s biggest joys. When Bob and son
Giles started Vermont Systems, Inc. in the mid-’80s, two of Bob and
Sandy’s daughters, Laurie and Kate, joined just a few months later.
Sandy decided her biggest joy would be to become the VSI family
daycare, and so for different time periods she lovingly watched as
many as up to five of her grandkids at a time. She could be seen
walking all over Essex Junction with her triple stroller, with the
kids outfitted in the many sweaters she knit for them in her “free”
time. She loved each of her grandchildren so very much. Jordan and
Taylor Willey, Jessica (Kyle) Damon, David Valley, Jack (Shannon
Murtha) Valley, Josh (Jen Cook) Mitchell, and Ryan (Micaela) Mitchell
are all blessed to have memories of a kind and loving “Nanny.”
Not only were they blessed but so were many of their friends, who
were fed her legendary cookies and sandwiches “made with love”
over the years. Sandy often said this was one of her greatest joys.
She
is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Wesley, Jonathan and
Bennett Valley; Avery Mitchell; and Tyler Damon.
Sandy
loved gardening; Vermont and national senior games (tennis and
running); St. James vestry, choir and memorial gardens; Colchester
Community Chorus; knitting; line calling at USTA men’s tennis in
Stowe in the ’80s; and designing and maintaining (with two of her
grandsons) the Essex Junction Five Corners gardens.
Sandy
will always be remembered for her caring and giving spirit. She was a
mother and Nanny to not only her family but also to others whom she
cherished, just as she was cherished in return.
Sandy
was predeceased in death by her parents, Northrup and Elizabeth;
brother, John Geer; sister, Debbie Vojt; daughter Kim; and son-in-law
Greg.
The
family wishes to thank Home Care Assistance, UVMHN Home Health &
Hospice (both in-home and the McClure Miller Respite House staff) and
Palliative Care team, UVMMC Baird 3, and Birchwood Manor Memory Care
for their amazing care and compassion during Sandy’s final months
and days.
Per
Sandy’s wishes, there will be no public visiting hours. Funeral
services will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 11 a.m., at St.
James Episcopal Church in Essex Junction, with a reception following
at the Farmhouse at Sunset Pond, at the Essex Resort & Spa. In
lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to UVM Health Network
Home Health & Hospice, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester VT 05446 or
online at uvmhomehealth.org/give.
If
unable to attend in person, the service will be on Zoom as well.
Please visit the “Worship” page at stjamesvt.org for the link.
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2025.