Sandy was born to Betty Ling and Peter Hom at Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 13, 1951.

The Homs hail from San Francisco and the Lings from across the Hawaiian islands, but Sandy began building her world view at a young age in the rural regions of O’ahu.

She found her original ‘Ohana of choice by way of boarding school at Mid-Pacific Institute. The close-knit Class of 1969 were a consistent source of love and laughter throughout her life. She wore her Pueo pride on her sleeve, always ready to answer “where ya wen grad?".

Sandy attended the University of Puget Sound to pick up both her Occupational Therapy degree and two roommates named Lani and Don. She also adopted an affection for ceramics, which launched a lifelong journey in the arts expanding to knitting, glasswork, and experimentation with any creative outlet she could get her hands on. Constantly curious.

She then moved south to continue her studies at Oregon State University and begin her five decades in the Beaver State. Following her program, Sandy worked at the Oregon State Hospital (filming site of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest while she was there) where she was welcomed into the McElroy/Raleigh family forever onward.

Sandy and Don married in 1980 and they welcomed Taylor into this world six years later. A few years further, Sandy pivoted her profession to spend summers with Taylor as he came of schooling age. She devoted her working days throughout the Willamette Valley and Oregon Coast helping intellectually and developmentally disabled kids and their parents navigate their needs. Her creativity and dogged determination were consistently challenged, and she showed up strong everyday to support others pursue better lives.

After a full career, Sandy dove into retirement with a joie de vivre that surprised none and allowed her to spend more time as her whole self. Octobers in O’ahu and every free weekend in Neskowin; her sanctuary spaces never strayed too far from the Pacific.

She kept her mind and body active and evolving — learning and traveling, exploring new crafts and recipes, and following anything that smelled the faintest bit like fun. The Hom family tree grew another branch as well, adding her daughter-in-law, Shannon, and her grandson, Jaylen.

Music surrounded Sandy every day; providing the rhythm for her heartbeat until her last.

Her legacy lives on in her relationships with ripples reverberating deeply in all directions. A concert only she could conduct.

Sandy’s lasting image is one of radiant warmth, smiling and singing, the embodiment of the Aloha Spirit.

Mahalo for your magic,
Taylor