1
tree
planted in memory of Sandra Blinn
Obituary for Sandra Blinn
Sandra “Sandy” Margaret Blinn passed from this life in the early hours of November 19th, 2025
in the 81st year of her life. Born in Hartford Connecticut to parents Howard Joseph Blinn and
Jeannette A. Gagnon in 1944, she grew up in Windsor Connecticut. In 1965 Sandy married
Raymond Wesley Okon of Windsor Connecticut and settled in Enfield Connecticut where she
raised her three children. In 1989 Sandy started a new life on her own along the Gulf Coast of
Florida. She lived in Sarasota and Port Charlotte for several years before relocating to Lake
Helen Florida in order to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren.
After High School Sandy began her career as a bookkeeper leading to jobs at Child World,
Specialty Retailing and finally a retirement from the J.C. Penney Company. During her years in
Southwest Florida Sandy loved to spend her free time at the beach. When her family and
grandchildren would visit; she radiated smiles teaching them how to search for fossilized shark
teeth in the sand. When not at work or the beach, Sandy loved to craft and spend time
cuddling with her cats. She made many friends in her Lake Helen Community and loved
socializing and playing Bingo at the community hall. In her last years there she was often
spotted speeding around her community on her spiffy purple 3-wheel bicycle.
When her Parkinsons Disease symptoms finally impacted her ability to be the Sandy she wanted
to be, she relocated to Orange City Nursing and Rehab Center in DeBary Florida. With her
unique sense of humor, Sandy immediately began making new friends and educating anyone
who would listen about what it meant to live with Parkinsons. Crafting as long as she could she
was known to be generous with her creations sharing them with other patients and staff.
Sandy was predeceased by her parents, a sister Sandra “Susie” Borelli, three brothers; Richard,
Robert and James Blinn. She is survived by; her brother Daniel Blinn, her former husband
Raymond (Sue) Okon, her daughters; Christine (Ed) Bemis and Kimberly Santiago (former spouse
Juan), her son Michael Okon and four grandchildren; Joshua (Marilyn) Bemis, Jaclyn (Drew)
Chin, Isabella Santiago (fiancé Pete Adkins) and Nicolas Santiago as well as her beloved cat,
Daisy.
At Sandy’s wishes, her ashes will be scattered off Manasota Key Beach. Sandy’s smile, humor
and snarky wit will be missed by everyone fortunate enough to have spent time with her.
To plant a tree in memory of Sandra Blinn, visit the Tribute Store.
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