Sandra Dutro
April 28, 1949 — August 1, 2013
Sandra K. “Sandy” Dutro, 64, of West Peoria, passed at 12:37 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2013, at her home, after a very tough three and a half year battle with a rare carcinoid cancer.
Sandy was born April 28, 1949 in Peoria to Kenneth and Cleo (Kopp) Gunn. They preceded her in death. On a blind date on July 12, 1965 in Peoria, she met Gary M. Dutro and they had been together ever since. They were married on August 22, 1970 at University United Methodist Church in Peoria. He survives.
She is also survived by their children, Kimberly K. (Rob) Fisher of West Peoria and Jeffrey M. (Karen) Adkins-Dutro of West Peoria; eight grandchildren, Madison, Riley and Jake Fisher and Jhaydon, Khennedy, Sterhlying and Fhorryster Adkins-Dutro and Mahliyah Adkins-Threats; brother, Jerry (Cindy) Gunn of Frederick, MD; sister-in-law, Judy Johnston of West Peoria; seven nieces and nephews; and eight great nieces & nephews.
Sandy graduated in 1967 from Peoria High School and in 1970 from The University of Illinois at Champaign, where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She taught French and English at Bergan and Brimfield, English as a second language at District 150 night school and also home tutored and taught at the District 150 Late Afternoon High School and at the Peoria County Work Release Center.
She later had Herbs & Angels gift booths at shops in West Peoria, Morton and Washington, and then created, owned and operated Dutro's Mercantile gift and collectibles shop in West Peoria from 1993 - 2000.
Sandy was a Calvin Coolidge Mothers’ Club alum from the late 1970s, a long-time member of the West Peoria Residents Association, a founding member of the West Peoria Garden Club and past president of the West Peoria Business Association. Her volunteer work also included thirty years with the Arthritis Foundation, where she was a Fibromyalgia Self Help Course leader, Tai Chi instructor and participated in many fund raising and program events.
She was a forty year member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria, where she served on the board of deacons and taught Sunday school, Children’s Church and helped host the holiday bazaar. She is a past member and leader of the BSF women's Bible study group and a member of Vonna Lou Larson's Bible study group.
Sandy enjoyed her family and making the holidays extra special for the grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, decorating her old home, knitting, crocheting and sewing, yoga, biking, boating and canoeing and her Bible studies. She was always busy, but always had time for her family. Sandy made everyone, family and friends, feel special and loved.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1420 West Moss Avenue in Peoria, with her son, Fr. Jeffrey M. Dutro officiating. Visitation will be from 11 to 1 on Tuesday, prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Sandy’s memory to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Methodist Hospice of Peoria or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Clary Funeral Home, 3004 West Lake Avenue, in Peoria.
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