Loretta Sandford

Loretta Sandford (nee Van Splinter), age 86, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 4, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Loretta was raised in Little Falls, NJ and was the older of two daughters to Richard and Loretta Van Splinter.  While growing up in Little Falls, Loretta attended Passaic Valley High School and following graduation in 1953, immediately enrolled at Mountainside Hospital Nursing School in Montclair.  While in nursing school, she began dating James Sandford, also a Passaic Valley High School Graduate and resident of Totowa, who was attending Lafayette College.  Following a three-year program at the nursing school, Loretta earned her Registered Nurse’s Certificate.  Loretta and James married on August 31, 1957 at St. James Church in Totowa and settled in Wayne.

As a career nurse, Loretta worked in various hospitals and care centers and spent many years working as a visiting nurse in Passaic County.  Loretta had 4 wonderful interruptions throughout her career with the birth and raising of her 4 children.  

Loretta dedicated herself to her family, always putting her career as a Registered Nurse on hold when one of her children were born.  Loretta was a truly devoted mother and grandmother.  She was not only devoted to her family but also to her Catholic Faith.  She and her family were very active parishioners at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne for many years.  Loretta was also a member of the Harmony Singers and Friends of the Library in Wayne.  She was a voracious reader of Historical Fiction Novels and “Reader’s Digest.”  She treasured her British television shows and was a member and donated regularly to the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).

Aside from all of Loretta’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Loretta and James cherished an amazing sixty-five years of loving and loyal marriage together.  She was a wonderful cook and loved to bake.  She was famous throughout family and friends for her Cheesecake.  Loretta was also a talented dressmaker and seamstress.  Loretta was a quiet and private woman who often kept to herself but loved to get together with family and friends.  Her family has had many memorable vacations throughout the years traveling by RV to various destinations throughout the United States including Virginia Beach, Yellowstone National Park, and Texas.  Loretta and James took the trip of a lifetime to Italy during their retirement years. Loretta was truly a special person who touched the lives of everyone around her.  She will be sincerely missed by her family and friends.

Loretta is survived by her husband James Sandford of Wayne, NJ, her son Thomas Sandford and his wife Angella of Hopewell, NJ, her daughter Kathryn Coyman and her husband Robert of Ringwood, NJ, her son Peter Sandford of Clifton, NJ, and her son Paul Sandford and his wife Heidi of Bel Air, MD, nine grandchildren: Joseph Sandford, Nicholas Sandford, Christian Sandford, Rachael Coyman, Colleen Coyman, Lauren Coyman, Matthew Sandford, Owen Sandford, and Austin Sandford.  Loretta was predeceased by her sister Mary Ellen Bakker.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Loretta’s name may be made to National Processing Center Alzheimer’s Association, Greater NJ Chapter PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090. http://www.alz.org