Sandra Richards

Sandra is survived by Kimberly Mlejnek (daughter), William Mlejnek (son in law), Michael Boston (grandson); Bill Mlejnek Jr. (grandson) Michael Mlejnek (grandson) Austin Brady (grandson), Denver-Raei Mlejnek (granddaughter), Children she loved as her own
Steven Kline (adopted in love- grandson) Aaron Kline (adopted in love- grandson);
August Saville (adopted in love- granddaughter)
Honorable mention as the grandsons she loved Houston Kline and Brent Adams ……
She was preceded in death by her husband Gene Richards, by her father Charles Currier, mother Rosella Currier and both brothers Chuck Currier and David Currier

Nothing about me is typical so why would this be…. These words I write are about the woman who was the embodiment of my world … and all week I have tried to find the words to express my mom.... 

You are my superhero... You are tough....  never backed down and ever optimistic, you always stand for what is right... Not convenient.

You are kind....  But hurt someone or where there is injustice and you will fight to the death. 

If I could define you most it is you are fair and believe in truth. Mercy is the law. But only if you take responsibility for hurting someone and have truly repented. You have always showed Grace and leadership. You lead by example, taught me people are broken walk careful and watch your words, taught me sarcasm hurts.  Taunting words or mocking someone was how someone masks their own pain..... So don't do it. You taught it's not fun if it's only fun for some. To find the way everyone wins.... To cheer on people and not cut them down,

You taught me be thankful and love wins...  And everyone has a story that made them cold and mean.... So be gentle with them too.....

You didn't teach it with words.... You lived it and showed me

I am everything I am became of you.....

You taught me my love for music and that music can speak what the heart wants to say
Every year I describe you in 7 songs.... This year I had to change it to 8 and add some verses to a few songs I never thought I would have to add.

Wind Beneath My Wings
Did you ever know that your my hero.... Your everything I hope to be.... I can fly higher than an eagle you are the wind beneath my wings.

Like My Mother Does -Lauren Alaina
"I've got her spirit / She's always got my back / When I look at her, I think / 'I want to be just like that.'"

You and Me Against the World Helen Reddy
You and me against the world... Sometimes it seems like you and me against the world,
When all the others turn their backs and walked away… You can count on me to stay.

Christina Aguilera - Oh Mother

So Mother, I thank you / For all that you've done and still do / You got me, I got you / Together we always pull through

 

If the World Had a Mother Like Mine – Band Perry

And I'd share her if I could…So the wars would all be over
'Cause she'd raise us all as friends. And no one would ever wonder if somebody wanted them
We'd walk on grass that's greener. And our cares would all be freer
If the world had a mother like mine

Mom – Meghan Trainor

You may have a Have a mom, she might be the bomb…But ain't nobody got a mom like mine.
Her love's 'til the end, she's my best friend. Ain't nobody got a mom like mine.
She love me like nobody else I'm telling you, telling you, telling you, telling you all
She taught me how to love myself.

Every word of this song is you mommy.  But esp.
The Best Day – Taylor Swift
And now I know why the all the trees change in the fall…I know you were on my side…Even when I was wrong…And I love you for giving me your eyes… Staying back and watching me shine and I didn't know if you knew…So I'm taking this chance to say I Had the best day with you –

This year I added lyrics and a 2 songs

These words describe my mom – if I could describe her – this was her

To Dream the Impossible Dream
To Dream the impossible dream, To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow, To run where the brave dare not go.

To right the unrightable wrong, To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary, To reach the unreachable star.

This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, No matter how far.

To fight for the right, Without question or pause,
To be willing to march, Into hell for a heavenly cause.

And I know if I'll only be true To this glorious quest
That my heart will be peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this, that one woman scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage. To fight the unbeatable foe.
To reach the unreachable star.

 

And because that – I will do the same ……
I am Your Child – Berry Manilow  

I am your child. Wherever you go, you take me too..
Whatever I know, I learned from you.
Whatever I do. You taught me to do…I am your child
Whatever will come …Will come from me
Whatever I am, You taught me to be
I am your child

I never thought I would add these verses ……

And when one of us is gone, And one of us is left to carry on,
Then remembering will have to do, our memories alone will get us through
Think about the days of me and you, Of you and me against the world.

You always made me feel loved...  I never once question your unconditionally love.
Now the line that describe me ….

Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay….But I know I had the best life with you

My momma Sandra Lee Currier-Richards was born to Rosemary Crain, an unwed mother on May 4th 1939. Hitler would establish his first concentration camp on 11 days later. My mother said that knowledge that she was born as Hitler was rising in power – always made her feel it was her life’s fight against all forms of racism and tyranny.  Three month later my mom named Monica Crain would be placed in an orphanage, where the most amazing humans, my grandma and grandpa, would decide to take her home. And name her Sandra Currier. The story goes my grandfather saw her and said this is her- we are taking her home Rosella.  My brilliant and stubborn grandma would teach my mom that adoption is just as strong as blood. My grandma placed my mom in dance classes and would have my mom go back to the orphanage to dance for the orphans and the nuns who knew my mom from birth. It was this experience that would shape my mom forever – she said “I saw these children with no home, no parents and knew I was rescued from that – that that could have been me” – and made it her life’s goal that no one would ever be alone or hurt on her watch.

My mom designed and sewed her own clothes at 15, she was in nurse’s training at age 16. She graduated High School at 17 and was a Register Nurse before 18.
My mom lived with empathy in her veins … and worked with the unwanted and the heartbreaking cases at the hospital. She was 23 in the beginning of 1963, the world was in a crisis and our young president was out to change the law regarding discrimination against people of color and vote for equal rights for all. Then in November 1963 when she was 24 he was killed by someone who hated how he was he changing the world. She would see the same thing April 4th 1964. When my mom rode the bus home with her friends, people of color, as they sobbed after hearing that Martin Luther King had been assassinated. She watched the pain and anguish of her generation for a second time. By 1968 there was hope in air and my mom worked in the campaign office for Robert Kennedy. Once again the world had hope till a bullet would end those hopes on June 5th 1968. At this point my mom, who was so devastated by these losses and working everyday with the families as they lost their loved ones she realized she was sobbing daily and something had to give. She decided to leave nursing behind and go into the all-male profession of accounting. She would regal us with stories of what it was like to break the glass ceiling as the only woman in a class of over 40 men getting her accounting degree and CPA license. In 1970 she met and married my dad Gene Richards- in the fall she got pregnant with me. She gave birth to her only daughter Kimberly Jean Richards June 12th 1971. My mom was always political she marched for equality and for women’s rights. Because anywhere you found an underdog, you found my mom fighting the injustice. My mom raised me to be that champion. My mom watched the Holocaust and Roots when I was seven and I sat with her and understood it.
She played the Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack daily when I was little and taught me why it ended so sad. She taught me all people are equal and deserve the promise of American that all people had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness regardless of your race, belief or sexual orientation. My mom believe in the beauty and the glory of all people of color and believed that every person is supposed to be able to chase their dreams whether they are Asian, From Mexico, Pakistan, China, or Israel!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that is a wonderful woman right – she sounds so sweet and loving and forgiving no matter what… and make no mistake she was - she always did the right thing. But make no mistake my mom was strong, stable, stoic, formidable, powerful. Nothing broke that woman – not taking care of my mentally ill dad, losing our house because he couldn’t work, and working 3 jobs to maintain everything and then watching it all unravel as my father was spiraling in his mental illness.
She played the Eagles, the Stones, Queen and WLS was blaring from our car radio. It was soundtrack of summers in the 70s. Mix in a love for Broadway, Motown, The 40’s 50’s and 60’s golden oldies. As the 80’s progressed so did my mom’s fight for all equally including what was known as gay rights. I watched my mom lead with the love in every interaction with everyone from bill collectors to the cashiers who all knew her by name. And so many who knew her as Kim’s mom. A title she would say was her favorite.
In 85’ my kidneys failed and in 88’ I married at 17 because he was the love of my life (LOL) turned out he was abusive and I stayed with mom but it gave me the gift of my life and the one true prince of my mom’s life – the boy she counted, literally counted, the minutes before his birth Michael Matthew Boston – the boy she loved with every fiber of her being.
I would drag her through countless disaster and all of them cost her dearly and she NEVER NOT ONCE called me a failure or stupid for countless stupid decisions – but no matter what I cost in thousands of dollars because I thought I would have it later – to the many breakdowns she would watch me have and not once did she ever say anything but you can do it – you will better next time – did you mean for this to happen  Kimmy– then it’s not a big deal – we will make it through. Unconditionally means WITHOUT any conditions and that’s how she loved me – No mention of Ms. Sandra Currier Richards would be complete without mentioning that my mom had one of the most brilliant minds I have ever known – she was in Mensa in college. She found her Lord and savior Jesus in 76 and from that moment forward she worked to be the Bible so many hurt who had been hurt by the church could read – not by her words but by every action. There is no words for the way my mom loved Jesus – she was the prayer warrior everyone turned to. If Sandra said it was ok – it was going to be ok
So I can’t talk about Sandra without preaching her Jesus – how she would sob when she sang “He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. My mom would love to preach what it means that the Lord said He adopted us – that, that meant we were His children, heirs to His throne. She would tell everyone how God wasn’t mad at them – He was mad about them – so much so He would rather die than be without us. She would sing at the top of her lungs Our God is an Awesome God. She read the Bible from front and back and all her life said she was a Messianic Jew.
So I have to hold to the promise that she is with Jesus – on streets of gold – the words Jesus said before leaving earth John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I could write on and on about all the people my mom loved, showed love,  encourage and helped everyone she encounter to get their life on track – volumes and volumes
 

So having to write the words –Sandra Currier-Richards is survived by just doesn’t make sense
Mom is the first person who tells you.... You can do and be anything. She is the one who holds your hand when a stranger comes to the door. She is the one you run to when you fall, you jump in her bed in her arms when you have a monster dream. She is the one you walk to when your friend says she doesn't like you and doesn't want you to come over anymore... You walk home slowly and hit the door see your mom and break down in her arms. Mom tells you to trust yourself... To value yourself. She is the one you walk into to ask “is everything going to be ok?”
My momma had to deal with the fact that the doctors told her when I was 15 I would die if they couldn't stabilize my kidneys. I was looking at dialysis for the rest of my life... Or death. Thankfully the meds worked my kidneys started. But my high school life was over..... No Proms, no homecoming, no senior year – To say she was disappointed I can’t imagine – I was her only daughter – but she never showed it, simply planned for my next success.
Then I was 19 had my beautiful son divorced the abuser and the world was opening up. Mom and I planned to go back to college.... Everything was wonderful.........and then the doctors told my mom I had cancer. We think it is metastatic.....
I cannot imagine how my mom handled that.
We lost everything as I started a fight for my life... My mom had to handle everything and all by herself finally 2 years later I was cancer free. We started again and so many setbacks – bad decision by me when didn’t understand I had undiagnosed ADHD. And so much many more moments my mom went through that she shouldn't have had to.... and through it all she extended love to everyone she encountered. In her life she took in 5 homeless families to get them back on their feet… she took in kids to love them and show them how much Jesus loved them. She feed countless people and taught me to always have money on me for a homeless person to buy them a meal and tell them Jesus loved them and has a plan for their life and to hug them because so many times people didn’t see homeless people – people in need. She taught me to see the people who fell through the cracks of life and that love was the answer to everything.

And she HAS NEVER CHANGED. Till her last breathing moment…. Living with neuropathy and excruciating pain.... My mom put me first. The last night she could speak She told me she would be ok – go to bed and get some sleep and Kimmy no matter what I love you and Mikie so much. No matter what happens I love you both with every breath.
My mom was there for me every minute of every day. When I had something I needed an answer for... I called mom.

You were the true definition of unconditionally and you were uniquely real, genuine and true. This woman who taught me and embodies the words Without Hope, Without Witness, Without Reward to do good for good sake, the sheer meaning of it has virtue, and makes it intrinsically  good, no matter how hard it is to do. I am so thankful that you were in this world with me. I always said you couldn’t die till you were 99 … Always said you are stuck here for at least another 50 years.

Mommy I cherish the 49 years… 5 months and 5 days I had the privilege to call you mom. She would always say that I was her greatest gift, but I know that I’m the one who’s blessed. Mom you have the most beautiful soul I have ever seen in a person. No matter how much I may have been through, I know you have been through countless more trials and tribulations than I can even bear to imagine. You’ve shown me what true strength looks like.

 

This was my mom’s last post on Facebook -days before Covid would take her from me - --
“i am a very strong Christian and know my GOD he loves all.i moved to Rockford because there are abused, ignored or left alone children, i want to help. their parents too, everyone needs love and i will give it” mom was known for missing letters and words – but the meaning is clear.

When I try to list all the things you’ve done for me, I lose count after the 9,637,226th

But my mom taught me

You may not be able to change the world, but if you can even help one person, to that one person it could mean the world.
She taught me that no matter what I am dealing with, there is someone just a few miles from me begging God for one more hour with their loved one – so this is not as bad as this seems
She taught me I was not better than anyone else but I was never below anyone – that the ground was equal for all
She taught me long before it was popular -Science is Real, Black Lives Matter, Love is Love, Feminism is for everyone, No human being is illegal, and Kindness is everything

There are not enough words in all the dictionaries and all of the thesaurus

If the song is 525,600 mins.... is true

I have spent roughly 25,754,400 Minutes with you momma.
Every one of those minutes was made better by knowing that no matter what -it was always you and me against the world.

There was never a more manic feeling then when for some reason I couldn’t call you....

Every moment I question myself, every moment I ask myself how should I parent this… call Mom

Things are great, things are bad, call mom. Great news, call Mom. Horrible news, call mom. Feeling sad, call mom. Questioning what to do, call Mom. Trying to figure out if I made the right decision, call Mom. Trying to figure out what to do for the next decision, call mom......

Every moment I face.... I call mom. For 49 years 5 months and 5 days.  She never made me feel like I wasn't important... She has never said I can't do something... That I was anything but a strong amazing beautiful powerful woman who as she said “Kimmy you could do anything”

Everything good that I am is because of my mom.  Mommy I love you so so much...... Love you doesn't even cover it. I don’t know how I am supposed to do this without you – But I am your child and Mike and I are your legacy and we will make you proud.

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