Sandra Jean (Conway) Welch, 88, of West Lafayette, IN (formerly of Lexington, KY, and Charles City, IA), passed away on April 19, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

  Sandy was born December 18, 1937, in Joliet, IL, to Robert and Vera Conway. She grew up in Illinois and graduated from Aledo High School in 1955. She went on to graduate in 1958 from the St. Francis School of Nursing in Evanston, IL.

  Sandy was united in marriage with Dean Earl Welch on September 27, 1958, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Aledo, IL. As high school sweethearts, they shared a 56-year marriage as best friends and partners who complemented each other beautifully—Sandy with her organization, determination, and nurturing spirit, and Dean with his adventurous spirit. Their story had a playful start: Dean learned the hard way not to pull Sandy’s ponytail in class after she asked him to stop. Her pencil left a small reminder in his knee for years, proving Sandy was not to be messed with. Another high school adventure saw Sandy learning to drive—after accidentally running into a ditch, her only escape was to drive through a pasture of puzzled cows, with Dean by her side.

  Sandy began her nursing career at the Galesburg State Research Hospital while Dean completed his studies at Monmouth College. She continued working to support the family through Dean’s graduate studies at MIT. After the family moved to Charles City, Iowa, in 1964, she worked part-time at Floyd County Memorial Hospital before becoming a full-time mother to their six children.

  Together they enjoyed special dates—dinner out so Sandy didn’t have to cook—along with simple pleasures like Sunday drives and family stops at the A&W or Dairy Queen. They cherished date nights and occasional getaways, including dinners at the Hubbell House in Mantorville, MN. They enjoyed playful banter, with Dean often starting, “Patience is a virtue. Possess it if you can,” and Sandy finishing, “Seldom seen in women and never seen in man.” Their retirement years in Lexington, KY, were filled with hobbies, travel, family time, and the joyful companionship they had built over a lifetime.

  Sandy was a determined woman who returned to school while her children were still in college. She started at the local community college, commuted an hour each way to the University of Northern Iowa, and studied late into the night, earning her BA in Accounting in 1990. She passed the CPA exam and built a rewarding second career as a tax preparer and accountant, enjoying being part of the team at Thomas & King in Lexington, KY.

  A proficient gardener, seamstress, and cook, Sandy planted vibrant annuals each spring. She tended a garden, canned produce, made homemade jams, and filled the house with fresh peonies and roses. She knitted mittens in the school colors for each child and crafted sock monkeys and Humpty Dumpty pillows (using patterns from her mother-in-law). Her Texas sheet cake was a beloved tradition for birthdays and holidays. She prepared memorable Thanksgiving dinners with her signature dressing and deviled eggs, and always tucked a big apple or orange into each Christmas stocking. She loved reading Harlequin novels and even took flying lessons to learn how to land a plane, a practical expression of support for Dean’s passion for flying.

  As a mother of six, Sandy was exceptional at managing a busy household. Weekly menus on the refrigerator and chore lists kept things running smoothly, even during her night shifts at the hospital or while commuting for college. Affectionately known as “Ma Welch” to her children’s friends, her home was always open to them. She never missed a sporting event or concert, volunteered for the girls’ Brownie and Girl Scout troops, and sewed countless costumes for school plays and musicals.

  With nineteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, she was lovingly called Gma Sandy. Birthday cards always included a little something extra, signed “Gma Sandy and Gpa Dino.” Her guest room closet held bins of toys, and the handmade sock monkeys and Humpty Dumpty pillows were family favorites. From the grandkids’ perspective, visits to Gma meant plenty of snacks and drink boxes.

  At her core, Sandy was a humble and kind woman whose life was dedicated to her Catholic faith and family. She instilled a reverence for God in her children and taught them by example to handle life’s daily tasks with humility and quiet strength. She was active at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City and later at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Lexington. Her greatest joy came from her family, and she took immense pride in her children and their growing families. Warm, organized, resilient, and nurturing, she blessed those around her with quiet strength and an open heart.

  Sandy is survived by her six children: Mary Breitbach of Charles City, IA; Mike (Julie) Welch of Burlington, WA; Alison Vierk of West Lafayette, IN; Kris Meyer of Knoxville, TN; Eric (Cindy) Welch of Lakeville, MN; and Sharon (Susan McDowell) Welch of Lexington, KY. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and her sister Penny (Don) Schroeder of Davenport, IA.

  The family expresses their thankfulness to the staff at Westminster Village in West Lafayette and Franciscan Hospice Care in Lafayette for the compassionate care they provided to Sandy.

Inurnment will be scheduled at a later date at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Lexington, KY. Arrangements are being handled by Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home in Brookston, IN.