Sandra (Sandie) N. Rossini, 45, of Southborough, MA, passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at home. Sandie was the true love and devoted wife of Matt Rossini and an amazing mother to daughters Liliana (Lili) Torres and Calla Torres.
Sandie was born in Boston, MA, the daughter of Judie Newton and Stan Straube. Raised in Southborough, MA, and then returning after some time in Malden, MA, she cherished that ability to raise the joys of her life, Lili and Calla, in the same small town she so dearly loved.
Sandie is survived by her husband, Matt Rossini; daughters Liliana and Calla Torres, of Southborough, MA; mother Judie Newton of Southborough, MA; father Stan Straube and his wife, Kathy Straube, of Methuen, MA; sister Stacey Stephenson and her husband, Dan Stephenson, of Ashland, OH; brother Craig Soboleski of Rye, NH; brother Rob Soboleski and his wife, Ginger Soboleski, of Huntingtown, MD as well as many nieces and nephews, additional family members, and dear friends.
Following her passion for music, Sandie worked for legendary music promoter, Jerry Brenner and then in marketing for Boston Radio Station 94.5 after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at Assumption College. After the birth of Lili, Sandie pursued her entrepreneurial passion and started an artist management company for the professional beauty industry and evolved that business into an industry magazine, Your Beauty Industry, where Sandie directed photo shoots and created content covering industry manufacturers, artists, and celebrities. Sandie also went on to host a fashion show during Boston Fashion Week.
In the spring and summer of 2013, Sandie found herself struggling with increasing nausea and headaches. On July 3rd, 2013, after the discovery of a brain tumor, Sandie received emergency surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma. The surgery marked the beginning of a courageous battle. Sandie refused to succumb to statistics or pay any attention to prognosis. Instead, Sandie made the immediate decision to fight, survive, and pursue a lifetime of happiness with family, friends, and her community.
Drawing on her professional experience, Sandie decided to start a blog to chronicle her journey and create a product line of positive statement clothing, daily inspiration cards, and additional items. Sandie’s products were carried in the Windows of Hope store at Beth Israel Hospital and Sandie carried her message to numerous local events, selling products at local businesses and through her online store.
Sandie connected with people battling glioblastoma and other illnesses. Sandie’s ability to connect to people, relate to struggles, and empathize with others was so special and personal. Sandie appreciated everyone’s struggles and challenges in life, never judging, always listening, and encouraging others to continue to fight for a positive and healthy life.
Sandie’s greatest joy in life was her daughters. She loved the strong, independent people they’d become, their unique personalities and talents, and their massive hearts. She loved listening to them share details about their day, good and bad, and helping them through the challenges they were facing. Sandie had an unparalleled ability to listen and to allow the girls to work through situations, empowering the girls to live their lives on their terms.
Sandie loved simple pleasures: a sunset, a rainy day, sipping coffee, a conversation with a friend, the Boston Celtics, and horror movies. She loved trips to Cape Cod with family, thoughtful gifts, and mostly seeing others happy. She loved friends, family, and her neighbors. Sandie appreciated others’ differences and points of view and was tolerant of others’ beliefs regardless of her own.
Family and friends are invited to a night of remembrance on Thursday, December 21, 2023, from 4:00PM to 8:00pm at Riverview at The Hudson Portuguese Club, 13 Port Street, Hudson, MA 01749. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, December 22, 2023, at 10:00AM at St. Anne Church, 20 Boston Road, Southborough, MA 01772. Burial will follow at Southborough Rural Cemetery, 11 Cordaville Rd., Southborough, MA.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: “A Reason to Ride Research Fund at Rhode Island Hospital” – Attention: Mr. Andrew Miller, P.O. Box H, Development, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02901. Online gifts can be made to www.lifespan.org/giving-LCI
(Photo and Obituary via Morris-Johnston Funeral Home)
