Sandra L. Bridges

Sandra L. Bridges, passed away on Wednesday, February 21. 2024, at the Loma Linda Veterans Hospice with her family at her side.

She leaves her husband Junior of 24 years, her son Connor, sister Julie Dargie and husband Joe of Upton, MA, brother Bob Forrester and wife Erika of Glendale RI, and several nieces.

Sandy was born in Okinawa Japan, Daughter of the late Robert Forrester, and Debra (Cortis) Martens. Born into a family with strong military service background and lived in many places in her lifetime, Sandy and her siblings grew up in a single parent household, they learned to be self-sufficient, resilient, and to be tenacious to get what they wanted from life. Sandy graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1992, and went into the Military in 1998. Sandy served her country for 20 years. In that time she was deployed in support of her fellow service members as a Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Corpsman. During that time she deployed into harms way twice to Afghanistan.  Sandy took great pride in her service and valued the strong relationships with fellow Corpsman who also helped care for her up to her passing.

Sandy enjoyed socializing with service personnel, neighbors, friends, anyone she met. Sandy could hold her own for sure and loved telling stories, lots of them. She took things lightly but always told it how it was, her laugh could be heard from a distance. Sandy was creative and artistic..her upbringing made her strong, she never shied away from navigating something new, she decided to pursue her artistic abilities and started her own baking company. Sandy and her family enjoyed years of desert and beach camping with a large group of friends.

Sandy retired from the U.S. Navy in 2018 at 44 years old. After many years of raising her family and serving her country it was time to focus on herself and reuniting with her sister and friends. Sandy focused on self-improvement and healthy living. Sandy engaged in yoga, healthy nutrition and lots of sunshine. Sandy enjoyed spending time with her nieces over the summer, exploring Hot yoga and reuniting with Julie after being apart for so many years.

Sandy dreamed of retiring and enjoying her life, and with some subtle symptoms Fall of 2023, diagnosis in December 2023, she passed 2 months later. Her family, extended families, and friends are still in shock.

Calling hours in Massachusetts will be held on Friday March 22, from 5 to 7 PM in the Pickering & Son Upton Funeral Home, 45 Main Street, Upton, MA.

Her funeral service will be celebrated at 11 A.M. on Saturday March 23, in the United Parish of Upton Church, 1 Church Street, Upton, MA.  Military honors will immediately follow the service in the church.

There will be no cemetery services.